rocket finance

Okay, So We Did the Chuck E. Cheese Thing Tonight

We have been planning this for a while as a “potty training” award for our three year old. She has been filling out a special events calendar from CEC that you can print off  and use to motivate your child. Then bring it to CEC and exchange it for ten free tokens – with the purchase of food. Not the greatest deal in the world, but it got us in door. A better coupon isd this one that essentially gives 100 tokens for $10.

Mighty Bargain Hunter took some heat earlier this week for advising people to purchase CEC tokens at reduced prices on ebay – a good idea because a CEC token no longer purchases anywhere near the entertainment that it once did. It’s value is nowhere near a quarter. Anyway the CEC that we patronized has solved that problem by giving a card that is charged with the number of tokens you purchase. The card does not work at any other store. We still did quite well at $10 for 100 tokens.

The big problem, as I see it, is that now my three-year-old and soon-to-be-five year old both know how to swipe a credit card – and furthermore the card made it a lot easier to go through those 100 tokens. I remember how I used to spend my pocketfull of tokens very slowly. I would wait an watch other kids play the games until I was sure I could handle it and not waste my token just trying to play the game. With physical tokens, I was a CEC skinflint. With the CEC credit card, I was Paris Hilton. I would just wade in to the game, scan the card and start pushing buttons. I didn’t even realize that one game at which I was standing had been over for about two minutes lights and sounds were still flashing and I was still jamming every button in site. I still don’t know the object of that game.

We had a great time. The CEC in our area was very clean and we went on a weekday evening so there were very few people in the restaurant – just how I like it. I got on a Skee-ball roll and won 250 tickets at one time and I still can Pop-a-Shot with the best of them. I doubt that we will buy pizza next time, but I think we will go back – as long as we have a good coupon.