Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Monster Mash on the Cheap

Happy Halloween, y’all! I’m choosing to celebrate our country’s most hedonistic holiday by eating nothing but candy and junk ALL DAY, which may result in a diabetic coma. So if you don’t hear from me for a few days…

Might I suggest my two new candy faves? Reese’s White Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey’s S’mores. They’re only $2.11 per bag at Target. So stock up! And then, invite me over!

I’m also celebrating my most favorite holiday by curling up with a couple scary movies (or “scaries,” as my stylist and I call them). You can do the same, but wherever shall you rent them? Hmm? Here are a few movie rental deals so good, they’re scary. Ugh, sorry. I just couldn’t resist the easy pun.

redbox: Yes, that’s the DVD rental kiosk at McDonald’s and every other location known to man. Their movies are only $1 per night, and they carry all the popular new releases. However, if you want a classic scary, like The Legend of Hell House, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Netflicks: The new reigning champion of DVD rental. If you can’t find it on Netflicks, it doesn’t exist. Here’s where you can put together a 24 hour movie marathon consisting of Japanese horror flicks and their American (weaker) counterparts. If that’s your thing.
There are a bunch of pricing options available. The most popular is $16.99 a month, with unlimited rentals, 3 movies delivered at a time. The cheapest deal is $4.99 a month, only 2 movies per month, 1 movie delivered at a time. There are no late fees (Hey! Lazy slackers! This is the plan for YOU.), and shipping both ways is free.
The downside to Netflicks is the prep work required. You can’t simply walk into a store, pick out your scaries, and leave. You have to order them, then wait for your shipment. Granted, shipping only takes about one biz day, but still. Delayed gratification is hard for me.

Blockbuster/Hollywood Video: If you need instant satisfaction (like me!), here’s where you need to go. You’ll pay more per movie, but they have an extensive selection of titles and they buy deep in new releases, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to find the latest movie in stock.
New releases will run you about each $4.60 at Blockbuster, and $4.27 at Hollywood Video (includes 7% tax). Rental times vary, depending on how new the title is, and they keep changing their late fee policies, so ask before you rent. And remember, Hollywood is CHEAPER by over $.30!
Both stores now have online rental options, but if you’re going that route, I think Netflicks is a better deal for the movies/TV shows/concert footage/the-list-goes-on you can get.

(MN ALERT!) Mr. Movies: Mr. Movies is a smaller, mom-n-pop operation that doesn’t exist on every street corner, like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video. I’ve found them in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin – so if there’s one near you, stop by! Don’t let the big guns drive them out of business. Power to the people, and all that.
Mr. Movies has all the popular new releases, and a decent selection of classic titles (called “catalog” in the video biz, in case you were wondering. I know, you weren’t.). New releases are about $4.27, just like Hollywood Video, and their rental periods vary depending, so check first.
Mr. Movies’ big draw for me is their Monday deal. All their movies and most games are only $.99 each. Yep, 1 DOLLAR a movie or game... how cool is that?!?! This deal used to be on Tuesday, however, Tuesday is the universal new release "street" day (when new releases hit the stores), so they moved it to Monday to encourage traffic on a slower day. And yes, EVERY STORE offers this deal. Offer does not include holiday weekends or "premium" games, whatever those are.

$.99 a rental. That is a sweet deal. Sweet, like Halloween candy. Oh God, somebody stop me before I pun again.

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