7 Smart Bargains from People Who Know Best

Real Simple asked bargain hunters—including a teacher and a financial writer—for their most surprising (easy) ways to save.

See Movies for Less

“You can see the latest blockbusters—for less—long before they land in your Netflix queue. Big studios, like Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Pictures [which, like this magazine, is owned by Time Warner], often give free screenings of major releases before the official release dates to amp up publicity or gather market research. The resource site Gofobo.com lists several shows a week in cities across the country. Or hit an early matinee at your local AMC theater [amctheatres.com]; every location offers $6 tickets to shows before noon.”

Meg Favreau is a senior editor for the personal-finance site WiseBread.com.