Catch A Flick And Save Some Dough With Tips From Regina Novickis

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — Love going to the movies, but can't afford the cost of a ticket? Consumer savings expert Regina Novickis has the answer!

Novickis visited the KCAL9 studios Friday to share some tips.

1. GET SOCIAL:
Follow movie theater companies on Twitter or "like" them on Facebook. They often post coupons or hold contests on their pages.
Follow the three biggest movie theater chains: AMC Theatres, Cinemark and Regal Cinemas. Chances are one of those companies has a theater near you. AMC Theatres recently posted a coupon on its Facebook page for a free soda when you buy a ticket to "Titanic 3D" and something else at the concession stand.
Regal and Cinemark post concession stand coupons on their Facebook pages every week. They're a must when a small soda and popcorn can run about $8. Movie theaters make huge profits from concession stands.

2. APPLY ONLINE COUPONS:
Buying tickets online can be an easy way to score savings by applying online coupons. Sites like PromotionalCodes.com and CouponWinner.com offer deals for movie ticket buying sites like Fandango. Currently online shoppers can receive 20% off Fandango orders over $25 when purchasing with Visa Signature Card using a coupon from PromotionalCodes.com.

3. BUY SOMEONE ELSE'S GIFT CARD:
PlasticJungle.com and ABCGiftCards.com sell unwanted gift cards, including ones for movie theaters. Some are going for as much as 15 percent off their face value. You can also try bidding for them at auction website eBay.com.

4. MONITOR DAILY DEAL SITES:
Movie theater companies and online ticket sellers periodically sell discounted tickets through daily deal websites such as Groupon.com and LivingSocial.com. Earlier this year, AMC Theaters offered two tickets for $12 on Groupon.

5. BULK UP:
Costco isn't just for bulk foods; members can also purchase two AMC tickets, with no expiration date, for around $15. This is an easy $2-3 savings per ticket.

6. RESEARCH DISCOUNT DAYS OR TIMES:
Find out if your local theater offers discounts for students, seniors, military or special matinee pricing. AMC Theatres, for example, offers discounted tickets before noon at all its locations.

7. CONSIDER A CHANGE OF ATMOSPHERE:
Try a drive-in theater. Many are cheaper than a traditional theater. Find a drive-in near you at Drive-ins.com. Many drive-ins offer discounted prices on kid's tickets on select nights and the freedom to bring your own food and drinks.

For more money saving tips, click here.