If the economy has put a strain on your entertainment budget, you are probably cutting back on going to the movie theater and other expensive entertainment outings. That being the case, the next best option is probably renting movies.

Although, renting is one of the cheapest forms of entertainment, the prices at movie rental stores are really getting outrageous, especially when everyone in the family wants a different movie.

A couple years ago, my husband and I realized that we were spending too much money at movie rental stores. We also have a satellite, so occasionally we were renting off of pay-per-view too.

We found the solution to our movie rental dilemma.

We decided it was time to give Netflix a try. Boy, was that a great decision! Let me tell you why.

First of all there are several different rental options, so it’s easy to find the one that is right for your family’s needs.

So, what plans are available?

With Netflix’s unlimited plans, which start at $8.99 per month, there is no limit as to how many movies you can rent during a month. For example, with the $8.99 plan, you will receive one movie at the time, and as soon as you send it back another movie is mailed to you.

Other unlimited plans include:

• $13.99 per month - 2 DVDs out at-a-time (this is the one we have)
• $16.99 per month - 3 DVDs out at-a-time
• $23.99 per month - 4 DVDs out at-a-time

One limited plan is offered:

• $4.99 per month - 1 DVD out at-a-time, limited to only 2 DVDs per month

Other benefits include instant movie viewing.

(high speed internet required)

Neflix offers over 12,000 movies and TV episodes that you can watch directly from your computer or through a Netflix ready device, such as a Roku Digital Video Player or an internet connected Blu Ray player.

We purchased the Roku player for a one time cost of $99 plus shipping. It has been well worth the cost for us.

Instant viewing is unlimited if you subscribe to one of the unlimited rental plans. With the limited plan, you are alloted only 2 hours of instant viewing per month..

How does the mailing process work?

From my experience, if I send a movie back in the prepaid envelope on Monday, they usually receive it on Tuesday and mail another movie out to me. On Wednesday, I have my new movie in the mailbox.

Occasionally, it can take two or three days, but that is very rare. Of course, they are closed on weekends, so you have to take that into account when determining when you should receive another movie.

How do you get started?

Netflix offers a free trial period of two weeks. During this time you can see how the process works and determine the time it takes to send and receive movies. If you decide that Netflix is not for you, you can simply cancel your subscription 24 hours a day.

Yes, I do have an ad right here on my site for Netflix because I believe it is the best way to save money on renting movies. Feel free to use that link if you are interested in this service.

If you don’t want to use my link, don’t let that stop you from saving money on video rentals. Go on out to the Netflix site and sign up right there.

My personal experience

We have subscribed to Netflix for about two years now, and we have been extremely happy with our choice.

Since I love fitness videos, I rent videos I think I might be interested in buying. This way I am able to see if I like the video before purchasing it.

Our family loves watching some of the older movies, as well as old and new TV shows, on instant viewing, and my kids love the children’s shows, such as Caillou, Inspector Gadget, Charlie Brown, Dora the Explorer and many others.

Again, if you are spending too much money each month on movies, it may really be worth it to check out this option. In addition, for anyone who may feel the need to cut out expensive cable or satellite, this may be a great choice for keeping television in your home.

For more detailed information, please visit Netflix.

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

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Posted on May 12th, 2009 in Money Matters | 6 Comments

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6 Comments

• niki says:

  May 12, 2009 at 11:29 pm

  We have used Netflix in the past and thought very highly of it.

  
  niki’s last blog post..WFMW…Pulling the Plug on Digital Cable

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• Melissa says:

  May 13, 2009 at 5:48 am

  Sounds as though Netflix really works for you! We haven’t signed up; thanks for the information.

  Reply
• steadymom says:

  May 13, 2009 at 7:00 am

  We like Netflix as well. We use it for videos for the kids and documentaries for us.

  Jamie

  Reply
• Rona says:

  May 13, 2009 at 8:59 am

  We love Netflix! And if you take advantage of the instant viewing you’re definitely getting a great value.
  Great tip!
  It’s my blog’s anniversary!
  It’s been 4 years now.
  Stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate from vinylvineyard at Etsy.com

  Rona’s last blog post..Works for Me Wednesday - Daily System Calendars

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• Jenny says:

  May 14, 2009 at 9:26 am

  we dont rent movies anymore we just wait for them to come out on HBO.

  Jenny’s last blog post..By the Lake

  Reply
• Jendi says:

  May 15, 2009 at 8:30 pm

  We love Netflix! They also have a feature where you can put your account on hold. Example - last December we were super busy and really watching every penny. I put Netflix on hold for a couple months and utilized the library and free Redbox codes. By the time life slowed enough to miss Netflix our hold was over.

  Their customer support has been great also.

  Jendi’s last blog post..Do I Have To Wear Shoes?

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