SoCal on the Cheap (Formerly Summer of Cheap)

Affordable Vegas!

2010-09-16T02:53:00.000-07:00

Vacations are usually a huge money dump. Between the transportation, lodging, and food, there's hardly enough cashola left to actually DO anything! Well, that's the genius of Las Vegas. You don't have to break the bank to visit, AND - if you have a lucky streak - your vacation might actually pay for itself!

I visited Vegas recently, as a part of an annnual Girls Weekend (GWLV). My bestie, Amber, has got this whole trip-planning thing down to a science! Sure, it's a huge part of her actual job, but I think she enjoys planning GWLV. The main key here is that she plans everything loosely - attendees are free to participate or not - and no guilt if you decide to hit the pool instead of attending the afternoon visit to the Liberace Museum. (Disclaimer - We have never actually visited the above-mentioned location!) By going in a group, we share expenses, which brings the cost waaaaaay down.

Expense #1: Transportation. If you're in Cali, Arizona, or even Utah, a roadtrip is the way to go. Pack a lunch, or stop in at a roadside fast food place, and you can get there fairly inexpensively. Anywhere else, you're gonna have to fly. (Sorry, no stop at the World's Tallest Thermometer for you!) You'll be surprised at how cheap flights to Vegas can be! Seriously, check it out here. I've heard of people flying from the East Coast for about $100!

As for me, I tagged along with Amber & Oly, who chose to drive a very economical vehicle to Vegas, which required ZERO stops for gas! We stopped once for dinner - Oly was a sweetheart & bought us some fancy chicken strips at Jack in the Box.

Expense #2: Lodging. We take this super-seriously, after all, we're gonna be poorly-rested as it is, due to nightly adventures, but we don't want to sleep in rock-hard beds, too! Can you imagine the level of cranky that our group of ladies would achieve?! Nope, gotta stay somewhere nice. Our choice for lodging is the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. The location is pretty close to perfect for us. It's on the south part of the strip, right next to a CVS (great for forgotten supplies like shampoo or sunblock), and there's a free monorail that will take you down to the City Center and Bellagio.

One really great thing about the Monte Carlo is it's ventilation system... Smoking is allowed pretty much everywhere in Vegas. (I still haven't checked the churches, police station, or hospital, but then again, we haven't done the The Hangoverversion of GWLV yet!) Still, it's actually not overly smoky in the Monte Carlo casino. If you have a sensitivity to smoke, you really should consider this hotel, or the New York New York Hotel and Casino.

Also, the Monte Carlo has a pretty decent pool area. It's no "Rehab" like at the Hard Rock Hotel, so if you're looking for a huge party scene, this isn't the place. It's pretty mellow, but don't worry, there's plenty of eye candy, if that's what you're looking for. The lazy river is a wonderful place to cool off... Just grab a floatie and meander around the river for as long as you like!

Anyhow, bottom line: Always have a roomie so you can split the lodging expense. If it's $40 a night (that's what I paid at the Luxor this past summer) and you've got a friend with you, well, now you're only out $20!

Expense #3: Food. You could pretty easily go broke just eating in Vegas. Keep your eye out for deals, though, and you'll be sittin' pretty! Prior to leaving, check Restaurant.com for deals. They offer $25 gift certificates to thousands of restaurants for only $10!
Also, consider getting an Entertainment Book for Las Vegas. It has hundreds of "Buy One, Get One Free" coupons, and 50% off deals at restaurants all over Vegas.

If you're smart, you'll keep a snack or two in your room. Think crackers, fruit, granola bars... And maybe a beverage. Or even some adult beverages! Our rooms had refrigerators in 'em, and of course, there's always ice available, so we had drinks available whenever we got thirsty.

The Monte Carlo has a food court that offers affordable fast food, such as McDonald's, Subway, and Sbarro. They also have an all-you-can-eat buffet... And on Saturday morning, when we went, that included champagne! (I covered my $19.99 worth in champagne alone.) I haven't done it yet, but I've heard you can get an all-day buffet pass for about $35, and it's valid at several different casino buffets. If you plan on being hungry, well, this is an AMAZING deal!

There are loads of reputable, exquisite restaurants in Vegas, and by all means, you might want to slurge on one or two. We dined at the Grand Lux Cafe at The Palazzo. I had a pasta and chicken dish and a beer for around $20. However, if you have a more refined palate, they have an extensive wine menu and lots of delightful entrees to choose from. The portions are HUGE - I think every one of us took a "to go" box back to our hotel!

Expense #4: Entertainment. Vegas has a vast array of entertainment choices! It's possible to do all kinds of stuff around Vegas for fairly cheap, if you plan ahead! Remember that Entertainment Book? It's loaded with entertainment deals in addition to food discounts.

I just discovered this one today: The Ultimate Vegas Power Pass. For a mere $89 ($59 for kids), for 2 days you have access to dozens of Vegas attractions. Here's just a few: All-Day Ride Pass at the Adventuredome, Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Las Vegas, Hoover Dam Motor Coach Tour, Las Vegas Zoo, Liberace Museum, Madame Tussauds, $10 Credit at Planet Hollywood, Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat, Stratosphere Tower Observation Deck, The Legacy Tour at Grand Canyon West, and the Roller Coaster @ NYNY. The pass has a value of over $500! For comparison purposes: The NYNY roller coaster is $14, the Eiffel Tower is $10-$15 (depending what time you go), the Stratosphere is $15.95, and Adventuredome is $24.95. Honestly, the The Ultimate Vegas Power Pass is one of the best deals I've come across in a long time!

Expense #4: Gambling. Naturally, you can spend as little or as much as you want on gambling. If you choose to do so, make sure you sign up for a players club card. Simply hand it to the dealer or insert it in the machine you're playing, and you'll rack up points toward free buffets, comped rooms, and other perks! One year, one of our GWLV attendees gambled enough to get a poolside cabana comped for us! (Thanks, Christina and Monte Carlo!) The Monte Carlo card works at several casinos, including the MGM Grand and Excalibur.

I managed to win just a bit more than I spent on this trip - I did pretty well at the NY-NY casino, as did my friend Amy. We had the best time there, and didn't realize how late it was until we walked out and saw the sun rising! I hit a $50 jackpot on the Wheel of Fortune penny slots at the Monte Carlo, too. Yaaaay!

Don't forget, when you're actively gambling, cocktail servers will bring you drink after drink after drink! Whether that's water, beer, or bloody marys, they're free! Don't be cheap though, give the server a tip. I give a dollar per drink. If you "forget" to tip, they oftentimes "forget" to come back for another beverage order.

Expense #5: Nightlife. This city never sleeps, so you can literally stay out all night long, if you so choose! (Remember my gambling all-nighter?!) Last July, when I checked into the Luxor, they handed me a little coupon book that included free passes to their nightclub. This is really common, and you should ask for a coupon book no matter where you stay when you check in.

Also, oftentimes, when you enter a casino, there's an attractive guy or gal handing out nightclub passes, or coupons for freebies. I can't tell you how many free jello shot coupons I've encountered for Dick's Last Resort! Lots of places are free before 9 or 10 pm. I went to my very favorite place, Nine Fine Irishmen, around 10 pm and got in free. We listened to an energetic Irish band, watched a spirited irish dancer, all free of charge! My cider was kinda pricey, $8.25/pint, but when you reconcile the overall cost, it's not so bad. (Beware the Irish Car Bomb though - my friend bought a round and was SHOCKED to find they were $11 EACH!) Last year we dined at The Palms, so we got into the Playboy Club and Ghostbar free-of-charge.

Lastly, to save some cashola but still vacation like royalty, join BuyWithMe.com and Groupon.com. Both sites offer AMAZING deals in cities across the country. Check what's available in Vegas before you visit. You could get spa services for half off, entertainment deals for 75% off, or even dining deals for up to 90% off!

Total Expense: Believe it or not, my total expense for GWLV is ALWAYS under $200, usually closer to $150! See, Vegas doesn't HAVE to be a savings-draining vacation. Just plan ahead - and maybe pray to the gambling gods for good luck.

(Do you have a good Vegas tip? Let me know in the comment are below!)

Bandit's - Kids Eat FREE!

2010-08-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

One of my longtime amigas reminded me that Bandit's in Thousand Oaks has a "Kids Eat Free" promotion on Tuesdays, so that I could post it on SoCal on the Cheap, my Facebook group where I share deals I've discovered in the Southland. Mmmmmmm, Bandit's. I flippin' love that place, but since I lost my job, I have really scaled back on dining out, so no recollection of when my last visit was. Lately, restaurants are akin to luxury for us.

However, just thinking of the words to describe the yummy fare at Bandit's for my FB group had me salivating. Next thing you know, I'm dreaming about supper in the middle of the day! (Read this next line with your most serious voice possible...) In the interest of research, I decided we should stop in and find out if this offer is all it claims to be. "Luxury", here we come!

We went after the typical dinner rush, sometime around 8 pm. We were seated right away, within eyeshot of the TV showing the Dodger game, to my delight. We didn't even need menus... It's been months since we've dined at Bandit's, but we remembered what we like!

I ordered a scrumptious Bandit's Burger with cheddar cheese, a baked potato, and a dinner salad. My daughter ordered her favorite, chicken strips with fries, and a side of ranch. Her meal even came with a soda! Since it was so late, her tummy was already rumbling. My salad arrived promptly with toasty, warm dinner rolls, and soon, my daughter's stomach quieted down a bit. I'm not sure if they bake their bread on premises, but it sure tastes that way!

We chit-chatted about her upcoming camping adventure and I peeked at the Dodger game from time-to-time (I couldn't help it - we were winning for once!). We also took bets on whether or not they'd remember to bring the ranch. We used to frequent Bandit's quite a bit before unemployment set in, and this was something that happened nearly everytime we visited. Not sure why, and it's an easy fix so it's not a big deal, but it makes us giggle nonetheless.

Right on cue, someone turned the corner, carrying our dinners. We snickered a wee bit when, as predicted, her ranch wasn't included. The server trotted off to get it for her, which gave me a minute to snap a shot of our dinners. My cell phone camera doesn't do well in low light, so really, this picture doesn't come anywhere near the thousand words that I wish it did.

My burger was fantastic and the baked potato was delicious! My daughter devoured everything on her plate. She commented about how yummy the shoestring fries are, and I couldn't agree more! I couldn't finish my meal so I boxed up half of my burger.

I don't mean to skip through my meal description, which would be nothing but positive if I did, but I reallyreallyreally can't wait to tell you what the final tally was! Right around the time my Dodgers actualy WON the game, the check arrived. Grand total for bread rolls, dinner salad, cheeseburger, baked potato, chicken strips, fries, and a soda? $12.44. That's right, all that deliciousness for $12.44.

(Let me take a moment here to remind you that when using coupons or taking advantage of other promotions, always tip on what the bill would have been BEFORE those bonuses were factored in. So for me, the kids meal would have been about $5, so I tipped on $18ish.)

Let me assure you, this is one promotion completely worth taking advantage of. The food can't be beat - in my opinion, it's the best American/BBQ restaurant in the county. And if you can feed your rugrats for free, well, you really can't go wrong on the price now, can you?

Lazy Day = Late Night Bowling on the Cheap

2010-08-02T01:27:00.000-07:00

Today was quite possibly the laziest day my daughter and I have had in quite a while. She babysat last night and I went to the cemetery movie; as a result, we were both tiiiiired today.

I think we both slept 'til about noon. Then we proceeded to lounge around in our Hello Kitty pajamasfor a lot longer than that.

Around midafternoon, the rugrat turned to me and announced, "I'm bored."
"Ok," I replied, "what do you want to do? We should go hiking."
"No."
"Want to drive to Neptune's Net for Clam Chowder?"We had a winner with that idea.

Except our lazy bums didn't budge. We lazed around for yet another hour.

We HAD to get out of the house, but at 4 in the afternoon, heading toward Malibu didn't seem like the best idea. Then I reached into the archives of my mind and remembered an excursion long ago that consisted of really inexpensive bowling at Harley's Bowl. I looked up the place online and discovered that they offer dollar bowling on Sunday nights. Did somebody say dollar bowling? That's my kinda bowling!

I made a reservation and my daughter called a couple of friends to invite them on our late night adventure. Finally, we had a plan to get out of the house for the first time today... At 9 p.m!

We approached the service desk, asked for bowling shoes, and to my surprise, they were only $1 to rent! Harley's Bowl really means it when they say "dollar bowling".

The girls got situated and proceeded to bowl as poorly as humanly possible, but still had a huge amount of fun. They hit the snack shop, which needs some dollar deals to go along with the evening's theme. A large order of fries, side of ranch, and large soda was about $7. How about dollar Cokes and one buck hot dogs? Now THERE'S a plan they need to think about.

Whatever the place lost on bowling fees, they made up in the stuffed animal claw game... You know, like the one in the original Toy Story movie,where the adorable space alienssorta worship "The Claaaaaaaaaaaaaaw". My daughter's friend fed dollar after dollar into that thing, and shockingly, has nothing to show for it. She did have fun, apparently, just trying to get ahold of one of those elusive stuffed animals.

The other amiga spent a couple of bucks at the vending machine for Skittlesand Starburst.This led to some of the most spastic bowling I've seen in a good, long time, which made this whole evening completely worth the price of admission.

The final tally for each of them to bowl two games and to rent shoes was a whopping $3 each. Add in the french fries and soda, and for an evening out with friends, we're out $10. For my kiddo, who doesn't often get to hangout with her pals so late at night, it was more than worth a mere tenspot. :)

Five Guys Burgers and Fries: Not So Cheap... But Pretty Darn Tasty!

2010-07-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

I had never heard of Five Guys Burgers and Fries until the leader of the free worldstepped into one in DC, followed by every photographer in the country who was not chasing LiLoor TomKatat the time. This made the news, because, well, I don't know why it was newsworthy. I suppose because world leaders aren't supposed to eat fast food since President Clintongrew to ginormo proportions as a result of his affinity for Big Macs.

We saw the most recent addition to the burger chain go in on the main drag in town a few weeks ago, but due to recent financial restrictions, we weren't able to give it the ol' taste test until today. My daughter was just dying to get in there because her friends have been raving about it, apparently. I'm certain her 12 year old friends have truly refined palates, so naturally I trust their opinions. We decided to bite the bullet and pay Five Guys a visit.

These financial restrictions led me to search for coupons online; apparently they don't exist. Still, the search was not fruitless. I discovered a few things about the establishment that were quite helpful. Namely, a regular burger has two beef patties. If you're a single patty kind of person, you must order the "little hamburger". Also, the large fries can feed a small army. Good to know!

We strolled in right around noonish and walked into a really. Long. Line. *UGH.* My daughter noted that the line was akin to waiting to get on Space Mountain at Disneyland.The wait is made less traumatic by the free peanuts waiting for customer right there at the front door.

They have a bulletin board, paper, and crayons readily available for kids (well, and I suppose their moms) to draw pictures or write messages and post them on their bulletin board. Read: My lil' angel was kept busy while I stood in line, which is fine by me. The boards at this particular Five Guys was chockablock with colorful notes, praising their delicious fries, mostly.

The wait really wasn't all that bad because they had three registers running. When we made it to the front (10 minutes or so after walking in), the cashier asked if we had been there before. I responded that we had not. He offered to go over the menu with us. Had I not known about the double-patty thing, which most newbies aren't aware of, I would have thought the guy was daft. Since I had researched the menu already, I spared the growing line by passing on the run-down. By the way, at this location, you can bypass the line by ordering ahead of time.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to order a burger, grilled cheese, or hot dog, then tell them specifically how you want it. Choose from mayo, relish, onions, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, ketchup, mustard, jalapeno peppers, green peppers, A1 Sauce,Bar-B-Q sauce, or hot sauce. Get one, none, or ALL of those toppings - FREE! Cheese and bacon are available, of course, but you've gotta pay extra for those.

My daughter and I each ordered little cheeseburgers with a mishmash of toppings, 1 order of large fries, and a soda. The total, with tax, was $16.38. More expensive than In-N-Out Burgerbut less costly than TGI Friday's.

We grabbed a table on the outdoor patio and snacked on peanuts while we waited. An employee of Five Guys came out to ask if we needed refills of our soda or if we had any trash to dispose of. Not yet, but wow!

FINALLY! They called our number... My daughter scrambled in to pick up our order, then almost immediately inhaled her burger when she sat down. Then I noticed that she was chowing down on the burger I ordered, which offensively contained mustard. Trade! (That's why the picture above includes half-eaten food.) Her tiny little friend, the gal who eats almost nothing on most occasions, finished her burger in about three minutes! She had been to Five Guys before, but ordered a hot dog on that visit. She said the burger was a better option.

I'm not gonna lie - from the first bite, this burger was delicious! Juicy, tasty, pure yummy! The three of us were able to share the fries and STILL couldn't finish them. They're big fries, not the shoestring kind but not quite steak fries, either. I didn't love them... They were ok but I wouldn't go posting a colorful note on the bulletin board raving about them. I was told their cajun fries are to die for. I'll find out next time.

Because... Yes, we WILL be back. Probably not at noon, but we'll definitely make a return visit. Hopefully Barack won't be there, as much as I'd like to meet the guy, but the line is already long enough. :)

Drivin' North: Ventura for the Day

2010-07-24T03:05:00.000-07:00

My friend Jen discovered a recent addition to the city of Ventura: the Ventura Aquatic Center, right off Rte. 126. I've heard of these fun upgrades from your generic city pool but this is the first time I've been to one. This dynamic entertainment center is perfect for a day in the sun!

Now, understand that this place is literally just a few miles away from the beach. I love the beach, my daughter loves the beach, my friends love the beach, too... But sometimes, you need a change of pace and scenery. The Ventura Aquatic Center provides exactly that! Even better: It is reasonably priced! For a single visit, adults (age 10-61) are $5, children (3-9)and seniors (62+) are $3, and infants (under 3) are FREE.

Upon arrival, the kids immediately jumped right in, splashing in the pool, sliding down the two Hurricane Harbor-like waterslides, playing tag in the playground area... Almost non-stop! They wandered back occasionally for an energy refill (read: food). There's no snack bar here so if you want to eat, you're gonna have to haul in your lunch yourself. That works for me! Brought from home = inexpensive!

After literally hours of having fun at the Aquatic Center, they sent all of us patrons on our merry way. We weren't ready for the fun to stop, so we decided to meet up for some grub. Had we planned ahead, we could have used Restaurant.comcertificates or coupons from our Entertainment Books.

We decided to head over to Rusty's Pizza on Victoria, near the Government Center. I ordered a medium, one-topping pizza and an order of potato wedges - which were delicious, by the way! - for about $18. The guy at the counter teased us by telling us there are loads of coupons out there. Well, I found 'em! Click HERE to save at Rusty's Pizza.

The kids played video games - You know, the upright, old skool arcade gameslike the ones we used to play back in the day. They also used their prized quarters to get Oakland Raiders Temporary Tattoos and super bouncy balls.

Our stomachs were full and the kids were loaded up with prizes, so we all headed home. Another wonderful and fairly inexpensive day in SoCal!

SoCal Daytrip on the Cheap: Paramount Ranch to Lake Shrine

2010-07-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

Daytrip Stop #1: Paramount Ranch

I've been wanting to visit Paramount Ranch for a few months now, so it took me about 1 nanosecond to reply "YES!" when mi amigo Pedro asked me if my daughter and I wanted to tag along on his daytrip to exactly that place. Just why would I want to visit this place? Nestled amongst the oak trees in the Santa Monica Mountains, it's a western themed movie set, as seen in Tales of Wells Fargo, The Cisco Kid,Little House on the Prairie,and more recently, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Best of all - it's FREE to visit!

I actually visited two days in a row (I won't bore you with an explanation as to why). On the first day, a movie was being filmed in the saloon. We were able to walk right up and peek in on the hustle and bustle of the shoot! Someone assisting with the movie told us it was to be a 15 minute short, potentially for submission at movie festivals.

We wandered about, peeking in windows and imagining that we were in a dusty old Western town, like Tombstone. On the second day, a few of the buildings were open, so we were able to really see the sets!

There are hiking trails surrounding the ranch and a covered picnic area in case you want to chow down while visiting this location. We were on a mission to explore, however, so we saved our lunches for later.

We hit the road and headed toward Malibou Lake. Nope, that's not a typo! (Read more about the fancy spelling here: http://www.maliboulake.net/contact/history.html.) As long as I've lived in the area (30+ years!), I had never been there before! It's mostly private and inaccessable, but a hidden gem nonetheless.

Daytrip Stop #2: Peter Strauss Ranch

Just a few miles past the lake is Peter Strauss Ranch, which is FREE to explore. This ranch was once a resort, but was purchased by actor Peter Strauss in 1976 and later becamee a part of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. This quiet, peaceful place was once teeming with entertainment. The Terrazzo Dance Floor/Patio was made in 1939 of imported Italian terrazzo tile with a pointed star to commemorate Hollywood. It was a popular place for Big Band concerts and dancing in the 1940s. Willie Nelson,Johnny Cash, and Mandrell Sisters all performed here for a local TV show. There's a huge old pool on premises - currently it's empty, but don't get any big ideas, skateboarders, it's not like a modern pool with easy-to-skate bowls. It was built in the 40's, could hold 650K gallons of water and had a capacity of 3000 people! (And to that last part I say, "No thank you!" LOL)

The kids wandered about and found peacock feathers scattered on the stone amphitheater seats! We asked the gentleman who works for the Conservancy about it and he told us that a flock of wild peacocks live in the area, probably originating from when the ranch had an aviary. The one male was molting, and one of the girls on our adventure found what just may be the final feather from his colorful tail!

We hit the road yet again, turning onto world famous Mulholland Drive. We passed the Rock Store, famous for it's celebrity biker stop-ins (think Tommy Lee of Motley Crueand comedian Jay Leno).We might have stopped in for a cerveza on the patio, however, the kids were looking forward to lunch on the beach, so we kept on going.

Daytrip Stop #3: Malibu Pier

We headed toward the Malibu Pier, which is FREE to visit. Seeing as it was after daybreak, parking was at a premium. It's possible to park on the street (which I managed on the second day) but there's a parking lot available directly in front of the pier if you're willing to fork over a few bucks. They'll refund a part of the fee if you get your ticket validated at one of the pier's restaurants.

First, we wandered down to the beach, where we plopped down in the sand and tore into lunch. We watched the numerous surferscompete for waves as we dined. On the second day, we took a bench on the pier and watched dolphins swim by.

After lunch, we wandered along the pier to the end, beckoned by Ruby's Shake Shack. It's a surprisingly affordable choice for sweet treats, so we sat down in the 50's themed diner and ordered chocolate malts (kid's size: $2.99) and vanilla soft serve cones ($1.59).

Everyone's bellys were full, and parking validation only covers two hours, so it was time to move on to...

(Side note: On day 2, we headed north to Zuma Beach and enjoyed the sunshine for the rest of the day.)

Daytrip Stop #4: Lake Shrine Temple and Retreat

This hidden gem is a place that I hadn't heard of until recently, shockingly, considering that a portion of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhiare enshrined here in the World Peace Memorial.

Photographs don't do this place justice... It is quiet, tranquil, and stunningly beautiful. The tenderly cared for flowers perfumed the entrance to the pathway. I was taken aback by just how sweet their scent was. As we wandered around the lake, we watched the swans glide gracefully through the water and giggled (quietly!) as turtles popped their heads up to the surface.

It's quite impressive how truly peaceful this place is, despite being located right off Pacific Coast Highwayon Sunset Boulevard. Most of the visitors respected the tranquility of the place, with one or two exceptions - not us, I promise! - and dotted around the lake were several meditating individuals. By the way, there is no admission fee to visit the Lake Shrine, although donations are graciously accepted.

Our day of exploring some of Southern California's hidden gems came to an end. We headed back home, thrilled to have finally seen some of the places that tourists from around the world come to see, that we often take for granted.

Paramount Ranch? Check. Peter Strauss Ranch? Check. Malibu Pier? Check. Lake Shrine? Check.

Excellent memories? Check.

Interested in California daytrips? Check these out:

Roadtrippin' on the Cheap

2010-07-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

Last week, I needed to get away. I mean, I REAAAAAAAALLY needed to take a break from my everyday life. Long story short - this unemployment thing was really getting to me. Solution? Hit the road.

Now, an unplanned roadtrip can be crazy expensive because there are so many unexpected, unpredictable, well, "un"s that pop up. Endless roadside diner visits, middle-of-nowhere-so-they-got-you-by-the-wallet hotels, and "I can't live without this!" souvenirs all equal big bucks. I was able to keep this trip manageable, however!

First things first: I was unexpectedly invited to join in on a family weekend in Las Vegas. My dad had paid for a hotel room for 2 nights, so already, I was sittin' pretty. (Thanks, Dad!) I filled up my gas tank and hit the road. I stopped along the way for breakfast - I happened to have won a free breakfast at Burger King from their Twilightpromotion earlier in the week. So far, so good!

Las Vegaswas, as expected, REALLY HOT! My sister had arrived earlier than me, so she had already checked us in at the hotel. We put on our swimsuits and made a beeline for the pool. Aaaaaaah, refreshing! The pool is about the best free thing you can do in Vegas. Just make sure you use lots of sunscreen! (If you're a planner-aheader, go herefor sunscreen [and grocery] coupons so you don't have to pay gift shop prices.)

I'm not a big gambler, but I do like the super cheapie penny poker. I put a couple of bucks in the machine and played to my heart's content. The cocktail waitress kept me hydrated, and I tipped her a buck per drink. I gambled away about $3, HOWEVER, I recieved about 4 beers for a grand total of $7 ($3 lost and $4 in tips). Not bad for Vegas, when you consider that clubs charge $6 and up per drink!

After a couple of days in Vegas, I decided to hit the road alone. (I know, so brave!) I headed north on the I-15 toward Zion National Park. I paid $12 to get in (a bargain when you compare that to Disneyland's $72 admission) and $16 to camp overnight. I settled in and immediately went to explore the park. During the summer months, you have to take their free shuttle bus to get to most points in the park. I realize that hiking alone is a bad idea, so I chose trails that were easy, short, & heavily travelled. One exception: I really wanted to go to hike the Narrows. You hike a paved trail past hanging gardens, up to a point where you literally have to walk in the river a ways to see where the canyon narrows. I tagged along with a couple of families, who were kind enough to take a picture for me. :)

As for food, I bought peanut butter, jelly, and bread at Target along the way (again, using coupons!) plus a few other things like granola bars and Wheat Thins. Oh, and for down-time entertainment, I bought Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesiato read, and let me tell you what, this book is EVERY bit as good as you've heard it is! Food & entertainment = CHEAP!

I got a phone call from my daughter who was in Albuquerque, visiting her dad's family. "Mommy, pleeease come get me?" was a request that I couldn't deny. I hit the road, yet again.

Gas prices: Gas costs far cheaper, of course, in the bigger towns, where there's more competition. Well duh, right? However, this isn't ALWAYS true. The first station in town is usually a rip off, sometimes more expensive than boondock stations. Also, the last station before you get to the next state is usually a bit elevated in pricing, so the town BEFORE you hit the border tends to have better-priced gas. Finally, big truck stops actually have the best prices a lot of the time, even out in the middle of nowhere. One good place in particular is Pilot Travel Centers. I assume they can stay reasonable due to volume.

As an example of all of the above: I pulled into Winslow, AZ, as in "I was standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona..." from the Eagles' song Take It Easy.The first gas station was charging over $3 a gallon. Yeah, NO. I went to the very next exit and it was around $2.75/gal. I filled up there and got back on the I-40. About 2 or 3 miles out of town, I passed a Pilot where the gas was about $2.73/gal!

Anyhoo, I couldn't resist stopping at Petrified Forest National Park. It's a total bargain at only $10 per car (it's a it more for RVs). Now is the time when I will admit the reason I had to stop here: Beavis and Butt-head Do America.I loved Beavis & Butthead back when I was in the Army, and I loved this movie, as awful and silly as it is. I had been all of the stops in this movie, except the Petrified Forest. So, I handed over my $10 and completed my B&B world tour! ;)

Lodging in Albuquerque was free (with my former in laws, who are awesome!). My daughter caught wind of my Vegas visit so she wanted to stop there on the way home. I got online and searched for hotels using TripAdvisor,one of my favorite travel sites since forever! (I've even posted reviews and photos of hotels I've stayed at around the world, so others can see what they're getting into before they book.) I found GREAT hotel deals, such as the Luxor for only $40/night! Also, I bought a certificate for House of Blues at Mandalay Bay from Restaurant.com.($10 for a $25 gift certificate!)

The kiddo & I hit the road together. Several hours and one Hoover Dampass-by later (also in the B&B movie!), we were in Vegas. We hit the Luxor pool and later had our HOB dinner. My 12 year old was ESPECIALLY thrilled about the House of Blues because they have live entertainment, and that was totally new to her. (Don't worry, we went around 8, before it got night-clubby!)

We kept things inexpensive for the next 2 days by refilling our water bottles, eating pb&j sandwiches instead of eating at restaurants all the time, and looking for deals when we did go out to eat. (There's a $6.99 All-You-Can-Eat spaghetti dinner at Sherwood Cafe at the Excalibur, although I could only eat one serving.) She had never been in the Paris, Las Vegas Eiffel Tower, so we walked over there one night. I had found a 'buy one admission, get one free' in one of thouse tourist coupon books, so for the both of us I paid about $15. Bonus: The Bellagio fountains did their dance TWICE while we were up there, including Elvis' Viva Las Vegasand then their last-of-the-evening midnight show featuring The Star Spangled Banner. Had I planned ahead, I would have bought the Las Vegas Entertainment Bookfor more discounted dining and half-priced entertainment!

In any case, between the hotel discounts, cheap National Park visits, pb&j sandwiches, and restaurant certificate, the biggest expense on this roadtrip was easily the cost of gas. So, for maximum savings, think about hitting the road in something a little more economic than a Nissan Xterra (which I love dearly but I'm not sure the MPG could be any worse!).

After an adventurous, unplanned week on the road, it was time to go home. Home sweet home. :)

Today's Destination: La Brea Tar Pits. FREE!

2010-07-06T22:16:00.000-07:00

Last month I did some research and discovered that the Page Museum, better known as the La Brea Tar Pits, have a free admission day on the first Tuesday of every month. So, you know me by now, right? To greatly alter the words of Gordon Gekko: "FREE... is good!" Several friends and I agreed to have a lil' meetup there.

We arrived right around lunchtime. We immediately stumbled upon our first almost freebie: A metered parking space on the street with almost 4 hours already on the meter! (There is a parking lot attached to the museum, but it was full already. It costs $7 with validation.) We dumped about 50 cents in and moseyed into the park.

To be honest, we were in fear that the museum would packed, a la Vatican. Luckily, the museum isn't just a walk through, look-at-the-stuff-on-our-shelves kind of place. The outdoor area includes a massive, bubbling tar pit, which the kids (and parents, to be honest) could watch all day. A mammoth tragically struggles to escape the pit as two others, including a lil' one, look on in despair. As a little girl, I recall being distressed about this set-up. I felt terrible for that poor mammoth - and the kidling! The kids I went with today seemed to have full grasp that these were nothing more than dramatic depictions of what happened here, thousands of years ago. (Side note - kids today are a lot more savvy than the children of the Brady Bunch era!)

After a good 20+ minutes of watching the tar bubblebubblebubble, we met up with the rest of our group and headed indoors. Since it was FREE day (!) we wandered right on in and hit the exhibits immediately. Truth be told, it was a bit crowded. However, we soon discovered that it's really not all that big, so only minimal time is needed to explore. There was a lot of stuff on shelves to look at, mostly bones of animals that met their maker via the tar pit. The array of animals represented is fascinating! There are entire mammoth and mastodon skeletons prominently on display. I was a little surprised to discover that here in SoCal, there used to be camels and HUGE ground sloths! The boys were more interested in the drawings of the natives. (Click through, you'll see why!) This provided my laugh of the day. :)

The least crowded place in the museum was the atrium. It's a little piece of serenity, complete with nesting birds, colorful koi, and tiny turtles. The most crowded place in the museum: the gift shop. You couldn't get me out of there fast enough! I won't lie, I did spy something similar to this awesome, reusable cup,and it did take some restraint to keep from buying the darn thing!

We headed outside to one of the many picnic tables available directly in front of the museum. Most of us had packed mostly-healthy lunches of fruit and sandwiches. Translation: FREE! We all chowed down, and soon the kids were off playing on the hill (rolling down over and over), climbing the trees, taking pictures of the tar pits, and just having a wonderful time.

The unexpected thrill of the day was when the kids all lined up in front of a gentleman playing his banjo. In no time, he had them lined up, and was teaching them how to square dance!

This guy works for tips, so the parents tossed in some cashola, and sweetly, one of the boys proudly tossed his allowance into the musician's collection box.

We made our way over to Pit 91, where visitors can see an active tar pit excavation. This is also where I discovered that even some grown-ups can't keep their fingers out of the plentiful tar! It oozes from everywhere, sometimes where you least expect it. I understand the need to check it out, I really do, but for the sake of "lead by example", I kept my paws out of it. So, word to the wise, keep an eye on your kiddos or you might end up with some lovely new tar-smeared clothing. (Disclaimer for my friend pictured: She wasn't with lil' kiddos when she was overwhelmed by the desire to test out the tar, so no "Do as I say, not as I do" issues. She was with her 18 year old son, who also couldn't resist!) :)

We were ready to hit the road, partly because that magical "free" meter was about to expire. We capped this awesome free excursion off by taking Pacific Coast Highway, past the Santa Monica Pier, to Malibu. We watched the sunset as we drove. (Well, at least I did... The kids were engrossed in SpongeBob SquarePants - Pest of the Weston the DVD player!)

Sum total of the day - random donations to the museum and tips to the banjo guy. Spending the day learning about prehistoric Los Angeles and watching the kids play... PRICELESS!

Nearly Free SoCal Fun: California Science Center!

2010-07-01T00:04:00.000-07:00

I had heard from several people that the California Science Center was just about the best thing for kids to do in L.A, free or not! The free part is what pushed me from "Yeah, maybe" to "Let's go!"

A couple of friends and I hit the road midmorning. Immediately upon arrival, we hit our greatest expenditure of the day - the $8 parking fee. I won't complain though, as parking in the local neighborhoods seems like a far less intellegent choice. (Well, if you want to have a car when you're done at the museum, anyway...)

As the kids piled out of the car, they found something scientific to mess with right away, although something tells me all they saw was a tug-o-war with a Toyota. They took turns pulling the ropes and raising the truck off the ground, which reminded me an awful lot of the A*Team van at Universal Studios from when I was a kid, which made me feel like I could conquer the world! At that point, I think the kids felt the same way, or they felt like Mr. T, but I doubt they know who he is.

Inside, the kids made a verical zigzag beeline to the highwire bicycle. For a mere $2, you and/or your brave children can ride a bicycle dozens of feet above the ground on an inchwide cable. My son jumped on the opportunity immediately - my daughter, not so much. After much trepidation, she strapped herself in and bravely creeped out over the empty space... Well, the safety net, anyway. Several museum-goers gathered around to watch them, and for a minute or so, they felt like circus performers.

We made our way through a transportation exhibit and then an area called Lost Egypt. My kids were pretty impressed with this area - there were real mummies in there - a teenaged girl, a cat, and an ibis! (There is a larger mummy exhibit at the center now, however, it wasn't open yet when we visited.) We learned about mummification of humans and animals, heiroglyphics, the search for pottery shards, and pyramid construction. Finally, we watched an show about the human body, complete with a giant, well, giant that showed us the different parts of the body and how they worked.

At this point, we couldn't control the grumbling and rumbling from our tummies, so we headed outside to the Exposition Park rose garden. Although there are fast food paces to buy food inside the Center (McDonald's and Taco Bell), each family brought a picnic. The kids enjoyed having lunch with their siblings and amigos, and then had even more fun running around in the garden. There was an ice cream vendor walking through, and we couldn't resist. Someone must have given my friend Pedro their best puppydog, "Please, Daddy?" eyes, because he splurged for the the entire group. They sat by the fountain and chowed down on their frozen treats, then proceeded to run around the gardens even more.

We headed BACK into the Center, which frankly, I was pretty surprised about. How much more museum could there be?! Answer: A LOT! We went into an ecosystem area that had aquariums, touch tanks, a desert with tortoises, an Arctic area, wave machines... They wandered, explored, and maybe even... Gasp... learned something! They were most intrigued with all of the sea life. They could have stayed in that area the entire day, I think. The kids were searching for sharks in the big aquarium, catching flying ping pong balls to simulate how anenomes catch food, and simply having fun.

My feet were starting to hurt at this point. Luckily, the kids were full of energy. This Science Center would NOT defeat them! There was still an exhibit left, all about the Los Angeles ecosystem. The kids learned about energy-efficient lighting and reducing waste. They got to play "newscaster" too, and report on local environmental concerns. They were pretty darn thrilled about being on TV! Well, at least they could see themselves on TV, anyway.

We actually closed the place down! The kids might have stayed another two hours had a docent not come and encouraged us to skedaddle. (Thank you, oh glorious docent!) ;)

On the way home, we visited the L.A. must-try eatery, Tito's Tacos. We got 2 tacos, chips and salsa, and a soda for under $6. Usually there's a lengthy line around the block for this place, but we got lucky - merely a 5 minute wait!

So, for the day: Parking $8 + 2 bicycle rides $4 + picnic lunch $0 + Tito's Tacos $6 = $18! For a family of 3, that's an absolute BARGAIN! Bonus, all of the kids had a great time, even my 14 year old son. Verdict: The California Science Center is a MUST-DO in L.A.!

Summer of Cheap = MIA

2010-06-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed, I've been MIA going on 2 weeks now. No search party was sent out, so I'll assume you knew I was (and continue to be) still among the living.

So, the past 2 weeks have consisted of running around with the kids. School let out for summer on June 11th and OHMYGOD I had forgotten how expensive summer can be! They want to go here, there, everywhere, all these places costing $20+. yeah. That's not gonna work for unemployed mommy.

As of tomorrow, both of my kids will be places other than home. One is currently with her Dad's family in New Mexico and the other will fly out to his Dad's place in Georgia. (I just re-read that, I feel need to clarify... They have the same Dad. Not that it matters, but...) I'll get back to my "Summer of Cheap"-ing on Friday.

Side note - I've been working on a website, please click through to check it out! http://www.socalonthecheap.com

The Lure of $1 Jamba Juice

2010-06-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge fan of Jamba Juice, but my daughter is. She thinks frozen, fruit-laden, sugar-enhanced beverages are a good thing to waste - I mean SPEND - her money on. I simply don't get it. (If it was served at a Mexican restaurant and a shot of tequila were tossed in, then I would get it. She's 9 years shy of enjoying adult beverages, however.)

Since it was $1 Jamba Juice day, she looked at me with her puppy dog eyes, batted her eyelashes, and in her sweetest voice she asked, "Mommmmmmmy? Can we go to Jamba Juice? Pleeease, Mommy?" OK, why not, it's just a buck. I dug into my change jar and scrounged up a few quarters.

I tried the Acai Superfruit drink, she tried Yumberry. Mine tasted a bit like plums or raisins... It was my first venture into the acai world, and quite possible my last. Autumn's drink was so much tastier! Think strawberries, peach, etc... YUMberry for sure! My total: $1.

The evening's event was my usual Wednesday nigth standby... Trivia night! Like last week, I had a gift certificate from winning previously. Translation: FREE food! Tri-tip nachos & chicken nachos. I (boringly) drank water, except for the one margarita that my trivia teammates insisted that I consume. They twisted my arm (literally), and hence, I gave in. Total: FREE!

Total: $0.16 - $1 = -$0.84.

COME ON, FRIDAY!

Los Angeles Cemetery Movie 101

2010-06-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, some amigos of mine who live in Silverlake suggested that we all go to see a movie in a cemetery. Um, excuse me? Isn't that scary? Disrespectful? Blasphemous, even? Nope. It's incredible. It's worth every penny of the "suggested donation".

(Are you unsure of what I'm even talking about? See the movie Valentine's Day. There's a cemetery movie scene toward the end with Shirley MacLaine, Hector Elizondo, Topher Grace, and a boatload of extras. It's almost 100% accurate, except for at a real cemetery movie, you can't get advance tickets.)

Since I'm a "veteran", people ask me quite often if I'll show 'em the ropes. Understandable since it's an off-beat, kooky adventure. Had I not been invited by my party crew, I'm not sure if I would've ever braved the crowds to experience this "totally L.A." thing-to-do.

As much as I'd like to go every weekend, I simply can't. As you know, I'm on a budget! So, unless you want to cover me on the price of admission, then this will have to do.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Cemetery Movie 101

Step 1: Check out http://www.cinespia.org/ to find out what movies are showing. See one that interests you? Then move on to Step 2. If you don't see a decent movie, then I suggest you wait for the following month's list to come out. It's no fun if you're stuck watching a bummer flick!

Step 2: Google map it.

Step 3: Make sure you have $10 cash for each person attending plus $5 per car. (You can park outside the cemetery for free but it's almost impossible to find a parking spot.)

Step 4: Gather pillows, blankets, and SHORT lawn chairs. See my pic on the right? The backs of those chairs are tall, but we lowered them during the movie. Remember, you'll be sitting on the ground, and so will the people behind you. Be cool and don't block their view.

Step 5: Dress comfortably. Some peeps look like they're going clubbing afterward. Some actually dress up movie-theme style (like the Beetlejuice viewers to the left). If that's your definition of comfort, then coolio. It can get a wee bit nippy there (since you'll be sitting on the lawn) so bring a hoodie. Heck, bring your Snuggie, if ya want! You'll be camped out for at least 3 hours, so really, leave the super skinny jeans for another day.

Step 6: Pack a picnic. The prevailing food of choice seems to be all things Trader Joes, toted in via super cool reusable shopping bags.I'm unemployed so I can't shop where the rich kids shop, so I bring plates full of leftovers, or I stop by Subway for a $5 footlong. Just bring whatever makes you happy. Sandwiches, burgers, tofu casserole, whatever. You can bring coolers but you can't bring barbecues, sorry! Alcohol is acceptable. Don't be a beligerant drunk though, that harshes everyone's mellow.

Step 7: Get there early. Gates open at 7:30 for walk-ins AND cars. Walk-ins can wait all afternoon, if desired. Cars, not so much. Cops/security WILL send you packing if you try and idle by the curb. I've been about a mile back in the line and still made it in, so don't freak out if you get in a line that seems totally endless. Sundays are a better choice if over-crowding/sell-outs are a concern.

Step 8: Set up on the lawn. Pretty much everyone wants to get front & center. That's not likely to happen. It's ok, there really are no BAD seats. I kind of like sitting to the side because there are no designated pathways to the restroom. You WILL be walking on other people's blankets and hopping to the teeny, tiny patches of grass between blankets. Easy to do when there's still sunlight, almost impossible during the movie. So... this is important... USE THE RESTROOM BEFORE THE MOVIE STARTS!

Step 8: Enjoy the DJ while meeting your lawn neighbors and people watching. The movie starts at 9 so you have plenty of time.

Step 9: Watch the movie. Don't be a dick: Leave the cell phone conversations for later. In fact, save ALL conversations for later. This is also a bad time for greco-roman wrestling. This IS a good time for blanket snuggling. Don't get too hot and heavy, por favor, because 98% of the people around you don't want to see that. (The other 2%, well, those are the ones you need to worry about.)

Step 10: After the movie, clean up your mess. This is a cemetery, not the city dump. And you need the good karma. :) Whilst on your way out, visit Johnny Ramone's grave. You can't miss it. He'd appreciate it, I just know it. Don't go stepping all over other people's graves though (remember that karma thing!).

Please leave any other cemetery movie suggestions/ideas/feedback/notes of gratitude, etc. below. Except for complaints. Leave those in your head. ;)

(Some pics borrowed from www.facebook.com/cinespia.)

I think I blew it... Math time, coming up!

2010-06-16T15:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday included TWO visits to the - gasp! - mall. AKA Money dump central. I was lured there by the need to return some pants CJ never wore, the fact that I had a Macys $50.00 gift card & I needed dancing shoes, and of course, the lure of a FREE HOT DOG ON A STICK!

CJ's pantalones were paid for with a gift card and partly on my debit card. When they returned them, they didn't bother giving me another gift card, they credited put the entire credit back on my debit card! So, just by walking in the mall, I actually gained about $10. Woo hoo!

We headed over to Hot Dog on a Stick because June 15th was FREE corndog day! Silly me, I failed to read the extremely tiny, impossible to see, fine print (which was actually in bold blue writing) stating that the freebie hours were 5-8 pm. It was only 1 pm. What to do?! Turns out, Tuesdays are $1 Dog day! In addition. I had a "buy one menu item, get one free" coupon from my Entertainment book. They had no problem honoring it! 6 dogs + 1 large cherry lemonade + 1 order of french fries = $10.01! My cut = $3.34.

Shopping was a bust. Although my kids wanted to go, they also wanted to be anywhere except where I was. I gave up searching for a new outfit for the evening's swing dancing adventure (which was to be funded by Macy's giftcard) and headed home.

I discovered an outfit in my closet that I've worn once which seemed perfectly perfect for a night of dancing. How could I have forgotten about it?! Reeeeeecycle! Except now I had a new problem: No shoes. I abhor high heels but they were needed for the dress. I envisioned the perfect shoes... black, not too high, not too low, with a strap to keep the darn things on in case I decided to actually dance...

My daughter & I headed BACK to the mall, straight to Macy's. You'll never believe this: they had the EXACT shoes I envisioned, in my size, on the clearance rack! Autumn found a pair of Ed Hardy sneaks, also in her size, also on clearance. We got an extra 20% off (store promotion, and NO I didn't sign up for a Macy's charge card to get it!). Total: $58. I had a $50.00 gift card & Autumn had a $25 card... So, the shoes were FREE!

My nails looked terrible, and I had a coupon on me for a $20 mani/pedi. I had a $15 Mastercard gift card on me... I couldn't resist. I did it. Total: $5.

It was past 5:00 so, yup, we went and got our free hot dogs on a stick! PLUS, they gave both of us a coupon for a free lemonade when another menu item is purchased (we saved them for a future visit). FREE!

Later in the evening, I headed to mi amigo's birthday shin dig, a swing dancing extravaganza at Joe's American Bar and Grill. Admission: FREE! Beer: Not free... My bar tab was $19.50. Fun had: Priceless!

So, math time... $28 - $3.34 - $5 - $19.50 = 16 cents! I'm shocked! Two meals, new shoes, mani/pedi, and a night out, and I didn't exceed the limit! Woo hoo! (I didn't add in the $10 gained earlier at JCPenneys, either!)

Now, what to do with that $0.16? ;)

Disneyland... On the Cheap?

2010-06-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

I know, right? Impossible. The act of choosing to go to Disneyland seems to cause the available cash in one's checking to disappear into the abyss. As season pass holders, however, we wanted to get one last visit in before we got blacked out for summer, but before all the schoools in the area let out. I was determined to make this a non-bank-breaking excursion. For me, a day at the 'Land usually entails dropping AT LEAST a C-note.

Parking: $14. It's worth it, hassle-wise, to use their parking garage. I don't like the price, no I don't. I realize I could've purchased an AP with parking included, but I didn't, so now I'm payin'.

Food: I did a little research the night before and discovered that Disneyland will allow small soft-sided coolers to accomodate dietary restrictions. My dietary restriction is that I can't afford Disneyland food prices, so I figured I qualified. I packed a small cooler with bottled water, soda, turkey sandwiches, chips, yogurt, and granola bars for two people. I went through security like everyone else, and they didn't say a word about it. When lunchtime rolled around, we looked for an area that wasn't crowded. It wouldn't be fair to take up prime real estate since we didn't pay for lunch, right? As we chowed down, I noticed several other families doing the same thing. Several Disney employees were around maintaining the area, and they didn't say a word about us having brought in food. I figured I saved a MINIMUM of $25 by bringing our own chow. :)

Snacks: It was hot yesterday! Eventually we had to give in to our ice cream craving. There are a lot of choices, including a couple of ice cream parlors. Delicious, yes; expensive, yes. Instead, we wandered over to a free-standing ice cream vendor. I got a strawberry popsicle and my daughter got an ice cream sandwich. $8.

Dinner time rolled around so we couldn't avoid dining at a Disney restaurant. Our favorite is Pizza Port on Tomorrowland, so we headed over there. Salad, spaghetti, pizza, and a large drink was just under $30. Annual pass holders get 10% off. Total: $26

We discovered that AP holders can buy a 32 oz soda for $2.99 and get a free refill. Since we were sharing our Coke, we were actually excited to learn this! Thanks to the casier, Lill, for enlightening us!

I thought I was done spending money until my dear friend Jen offered us a bite of sourdough bread that she purchased at California Adventure. My daughter and I nearly melted with happiness, it was THAT YUMMY! By the time I got to Boudin's, the only remaining stock included baguettes and these adorable Mickey Mouse loaves. It was $7. It occurred to me, this would be a GREAT snack idea earlier in the day. Bread fills you up! The Mickey loaf is huge, so a family of 5 or 6 could easily share one.

Souveniers: NOT A CHANCE. Call me mean, but no. If it was our first visit, I probably would've caved, but since it was our thousandth visit, no need.

Final Tally: The two of us spent the entire day at Disneyland and only spent about $50. This is UNHEARD of, at least for us!

Unexpected "Windfall"

2010-06-15T01:07:00.000-07:00

The ex went back to Georgia today. He insisted I accept a couple of 20 spots on his way out. Why? Reason 1: I probably wouldn't have spent much money had he not been around, so he wanted to reimburse me for those extra expenditures. Reason 2: He knew I have been planning to take the kids to Disneyland for about a month now, and he wanted to cover the costs.

So: I'm back to $28, plus Disneyland is covered. (More on my "cheap" Disney adventure tomorrow... I'm exhausted!)

Exes aren't always the worst humans in history.

Weekend of Cheap? Not So Much.

2010-06-14T01:36:00.000-07:00

My son graduated from junior high on Friday. That meant family would be in town visiting. Translation: Lots of going out. Further translation: Spending lots of money.

Friday could've gotten crazy expensive, had the kidling decided he wanted to go out to eat to celebrate. Instead, he wanted to have a family BBQ. We already had everything we needed, so... $0! Woo hoo!

After a long day of running around and sitting in the sun, I was exhausted. The kids both went to parties, so I thought I was in for a night of rest. Not so much! The ex was in town town and he had ants in his pants. He had no desire to sit idly by as the world was having fun around him! To appease this need to party, we headed over to the Alamo with my buddy John for happy hour. Being the broke chick that I am, I stuffed a coupon that came in the mail into my back pocket, half believing that it wouldn't work because we were only drinking. Three hours, nine beers, and one order of nachos later, the check arrived. The moment of truth... The coupon worked! My portion of the bill: $7.00.

My son called when the party he was at ended. We rolled on over to get him, then spontaneously decided to go see the A Team. The ex treated. (Read my previous blog to see how much I loved this movie. LMAO I can't keep a straight face even writing that!)

Saturday was another day of parties for the kids. Later on, the kids had a dance to go to. Since the kiddos were occupied, the ex wanted to get out and do something fun again. He had read about the cemetery movie and wanted to check that out for himself, so we called John and his wife Jen to see if they were interested. They said yes, and we had an adventure on our hands!

Food-wise, I packed a picnic consisting of leftovers from Friday's BBQ. Afterward, we paid Johnny Ramone's gravesite a visit. Spooky fun! Anyhow, total for the night: admission to the movie was $20 for the two of us.

This morning, I woke up, sooooo thrilled that I got to sleep in. Around noon, the phone started ringing out of control. Spontaneous outing at the Alamo! I tried and tried and tried to get out of it, but my friends wouldn't have it. My presence was demanded, and since the ex had my car (he was already there!), they even sent someone to come get me! Due to my forced participation, the group let the ex know that he was buying my all-you-can-drink champagne. Let me tell you what: We drank all the champagne. They literally ran out... Or so they say! Final tally (for me): $0.

I ended up spending $27 this weekend. As you may recall, I was already $3 in the black, so I'm down to $1. ($25 + $3 [rollover from last week] - $7 - $20 = $1) Still, $27 for a weekend FILLED with family, friends, and fun, well, that ain't bad!

Pity the Fool: Me.

2010-06-14T00:49:00.000-07:00

Exactly how bad was The A Team? About an hour in, I updated my Facebook status via cell phone to: "Watching A Team. I demand a refund for everyone in the theater." The best comment in reply? From my friend Caprice: "Pity the fool who sees the A Team." So, pity me.

I'll admit it: I actually WANTED to see The A Team. I liked the TV show... So what if I was 10 years old at the time, it seemed good enough to me! And that Mr. T was sooooo righteously cool! The actors in this flick are pretty legit, right? Liam Neeson is an excellent actor, and Bradley Cooper isn't hard to look at, so how could this movie go wrong?!

Well, it only took about 30 minutes for me to realize that it sucked. I knew it wasn't going to be Oscar-worthy, of course, but I thought it would entertain nonetheless. The storyline was terr. ib. le. It would have made for a great hour-long episode on the series, because that's about as much time that's necessary for the whole plot to unfold. The other hour is dedicated to explosions.

Afterward, I thought, hmmm, maybe I’m being too judgemental. My opinion was totally validated when my ex (who’s a testosterone-laden military guy) agreed that the A Team should’ve stayed itself in the 80′s, when it was "totally rad" (to quote ten year old me). I felt doubly validated when my 14 year old son declared, “That movie was awesome!” Why? He was entirely down with that hour of explosions. I agree with him in that respect - they were pretty impressive. Whoever did the pyrotechnics should get some type of award (although I suspect he was greatly rewarded in overtime pay already). Also, there's one completely comical scene in which they attempt to fly a tank. Totally unrealistic in every aspect, but still pretty darn entertaining. Everything else about the movie, however, sucked.

Do yourself a favor: If you really want to see The A Team, buy The A-Team: The Complete Series on DVD instead. It's about one million times better than the monstrosity currently in theaters. Watch Liam Neeson in Rob Roy, Bradley Cooper in
The Hangover, Sharlto Copley in District 9, and Rampage in NOTHING. Watch Mr. T in Rocky III instead. Fo' realz.

And you're welcome for saving you the $50 you would have spent on admission and popcorn. I think you owe me now. I'll accept a beer next time we hang out. Gratitude beer? Nah, pity beer.

Day 7: Final tally!

2010-06-12T01:58:00.001-07:00

Today's "adventure": Jury duty. Last time I pulled jury duty, I totally zoned out for the entire day. I went to the courtyard of the courthouse, laid on the grass, and napped the day away, at least when I wasn't catching up on all the Glamour and Cosmopolitan magazines that I had in my "don't have time for" pile. Not one person was called to jury that day.

Today, I decided to take care of an annoying yet pressing issue: Online traffic school. I brought my laptop along precisely for that reason. I hunkered down and prepared for the worst. I read the lessons, and when I took the tests, I found myself literally snickering out loud at some of the questions and answers. Example:

(Cue Final Jeopardy! theme)

Which of the following is an unlikely alternative to driving?
a) carpooling b) walking c) riding a bike d) flying a hanglider

and

The Designated Driver Program is an anti-___ effort.
a) IUD b) UID c) DUI d) DIU

How about:

Drinking and driving at any age is ________.
a) A very wise thing to do. b) Legal if supervised. c) Illegal d) Legal

Last one:

When you are crowded by a tailgater you should…
a) allow extra room between your car and theirs. b) pull over and let them pass, then tailgate them. c) hit the gas to get ahead. d) slam on your brakes.

SERIOUSLY?! My 12 year old could pass this course without reading even ONE lesson. I felt like a creeper, hidden in the corner of the jury waiting area, stifling my giggles as I read these totally moronic quiz questions. Pure comedy. (Do I need to publish the answers to the above quiz questions?!)

Now, as for the budget... I've been paying far better attention to where my cash goes, to the point that I'm actually planning ahead these days. With only $25 to dole out, I really have to ponder where to allocate those precious few bucks. I knew that having jury duty meant I would have to eat at the cafeteria or a local restaurant. With only $6 remaining to spend, I figured I'd be chowing down a Happy Meal or a couple of 79-cent tacos.

I was paging through a coupon book that I have, and I ran across a page that I had totally missed out on for months. There was a coupon for a TOTALLY FREE Famous Star from Carl's Jr. Wooo hooo! Amy = SAVED! I drove over to CJ's on break, ordered my burger, but also got fries and a drink (both small!). Total: about $3. See, planning ahead kept me from going over $25. Yes, I DID IT! Or so I thought...

Like kids do, my son announced at 7:30 that we had to buy slacks, a long-sleeved button-down shirt, and a tie for graduation tomorrow. Fine, these things happen but... We were headed to THE MALL, the place where numerous bad financial decisions are made every day. The place where Cinnabon calls to me, even from the opposite end of the building. I hadn't eaten dinner, and even worse, we went to the store located right next door to those delicous, cinnamon-y treats!

Apparently, it was calling to CJ, too. While standing in line to buy his clothes he said, "Can I go to Cinnabon?" Mildly panicked, I declined. He added, "I have my own money." In that case, go crazy, kid! He even got me a fork so I could have a bite - what a sweet heart! <3

So, 7 days have passed and I only spent $22! Since a new week begins tomorrow, I decided to roll the $3 over. I'm gonna need it! This week includes: my kid's graduation (Fancy dinner at a restaurant? We haven't decided yet...), family visiting from out of town, a Disneyland trip planned for Monday, a birthday bash at a bar on Tuesday, another trivia night on Wednesday... I'm exhausted and BROKE already!

Day 6: Pints

2010-06-10T00:22:00.000-07:00

Pint o' Blood: I like donating blood from time to time. I get a little nervous due to my fear of needles, but that doesn't stop me. I don't always need a full 8 pints, yet for other people, it's a matter of life and death. So, take my blood, PLEASE!

My blood donating career began as a high school student, when giving a pint meant getting to skip a class. It continued when I was in the Army, because 1 pint donated resulted in the rest of the day off and a coveted 4 day weekend. Today, I was to get no rewards... Or so I thought!

As soon as I got to my appointment, they handed me 2 tickets to The Laugh Factory, a pass for a meet & greet at the Vans Warped Tour(upcoming activities for my Summer of Cheap!),and a raffle ticket to win a $500 gift card. However, when they tested my hemoglobin, they promptly told me to hit the road... My iron was 1 point below the requirement. I felt bad, but they insisted that I needn't return the freebies. I will return soon, American Red Cross! Tally: $0

Pint o' Beer: Quick! What comic strip takes place at Camp Swampy?(Answer at the bottom of this post...) Tonight was trivia night at Chuy's. I loveLOVElove trivia night! It's a fun evening with friends, competing against other teams to answer the most trivia questions correctly. We were on fire! ... for one round. Otherwise, we totally sucked. It was, quite possibly, our worst showing ever.

Upside: We dined like kings! We ordered a platter of chicken and tri-tip, a big plate of the most righteous nachos I've had anywhere, beer, & margaritas. The food was free - We earned gift certificates from winning at prior trivia nights.

My bestie since Kindergarten, showing me how to properly consume a pitcher of margaritas.

I partook in 2 pints of beer, provided by my ex (who's in town because our oldest kiddo is graduating from 8th grade), who owes me 1.8 million more pints (possibly more)due to all the stress he has caused me over the years. And, the answer you've ben waiting for: Beetle Bailey, who probably donated blood just so he could get a 4 day pass from Camp Swampy.

Can you believe this? 6 days and I've still only spent $19!

Day 5: Another Day, Another NO Dollars

2010-06-09T01:15:00.000-07:00

I fear that blogging about today will cause you to fall into a comalike slumber, so I'll keep it short.

Activity 1: Voting. Free since 1964, when the 24th Amendment was ratified, abolishing the use of poll tax. (Take THAT to your next trivia night!) I doubled up on my civic responsibility by riding my bike to the polling place. :)

Activity 2: My son's playoff baseball game. Free. My blood pressure shot through the roof, however, when I discovered the other team picked up 4, count 'em, 4 high school students. I could write an entire blog about the unfairness of allowing several 9th graders to join a team of 7th & 8th graders during the playoffs. I probably will, once my blood has reduced from boil to simmer. By the way, my kiddo's team lost. His Little League career has officially ended. Yes, I'm a little sad about that...

Final tally: Can you believe it, after 5 days, STILL $6?! Tomorrow's gonna be a challenge because Little League is having a pizza night fundraiser, and I just KNOW my kids are going to give me those puppy dog, please-mommy-can-we-go eyes. WHAT TO DO? Should I count fundraiser participation as part of my fun money?! (Opinions appreciated... Please comment below!)

P.S. Thank you for all the kind comments and for "following" my blog. You are a wonderfully supportive bunch!

The Price of a Dodger Game: My Ramblings to the Daily News

2010-06-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

My response to this article: Los Angeles-area sports suffer a loss off the field in today's (6/8/10) Daily News:

Newsflash: Los Angelinos can't AFFORD to go to sporting events the way we used to... Shocking! In all seriousness, I know all about it. I'm one of those Southern Californians who can't afford to get my rear to a game as often as I like. I can't speak about any other sport, but as an intense Dodger fan, I can attest that it's getting to be a challenge to attend a game at the Ravine.

Only 3 years ago, it cost $10 to park my car. Right around the time we signed the disastrous Andruw Jones, the parking fee increased to an outrageous $15. (This is actually the more affordable option for me, as taking the Metrolink will cost me $17 each way, per person.) So even before I've stepped into the stadium, I'm out almost a 20 spot. I happen to be really good at finding discount Dodger tickets (legally!), but still, a seat in Infield Reserve (3 levels up, behind the plate) costs me around $20 minimum. I have 2 kids, but for the sake of simplicity, let's say I only bring my son. Now I'm out an additional $40.

Let's be realistic here: One can't go to Chavez and NOT have a Dodger dog. Those are $5 each. Add a soda, another $5 each. (I'll be dreaming about having an adult beverage, which is $10 and up, but since I'm hypothetically with my kid, I'll pass.) We can't live without garlic fries, so throw in around $5 more. I'll do the math for you: For 2 people to sit right below the nosebleeds and actually eat dinner, the cost is around $100.

At this point, I have to convince my son that he's not going to get hungry again (not even during the 14th inning of an an extra inning game) because peanuts are over $5, a pint of ice cream costs more than what I'd pay for a quart at the store, and a bottle of water costs more than a gallon of gas. I could always mosey on over to the Carl's Jr. in the stadium, but that's double the price I'd pay if I had driven through the actual restaurant on my way to the Ravine.

The sad truth is, even if I'm given free tickets, it's sometimes still too expensive for me to go. I have wonderful recollections of going to Chavez Ravine as a child, and naturally I want my own children to have those kinds of memories as well. I want them to see Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp in action, the way I couldn't wait to see Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Garvey take the field. I want them to learn patience by sitting through all those innings, and discover that they don't need explosions and violence to be entertained.

I don't mean to sound bitter, because I'm not. I love my boys in blue. Ask my friends - check my Facebook page! - I'm ALWAYS cheering on my Dodgers. (To be honest, if the Dodgers had any sense, they'd have given me a job already, because I'm a one-woman positive-publicity machine!) I still go to games as often as I can afford it. As the article mentions, however, it's not nearly as often as it used to be.

(Blog readers: Thanks for reading, I'd love to hear [read] your comments... Also, click "follow" on the top right, if you have a minute!)

Day 4... No Fun Ever Happens on Monday

2010-06-08T00:07:00.000-07:00

Mondays are usually low-spending (AKA low-wasting) days for me. Nobody has social obligations on Monday, right? No Tupperware parties or book clubs are ever planned for Monday. "I'm stressed @ work, meet me @ happy hour" texts rarely arrive on this day. After a weekend of eating at restaurants & bbqs, most people just want to eat at home, so nobody asks me to join them for din-din. Movies are never seen on Monday. No fun ever happens on Monday.

Monday is return-to-work day... But not for me, not anymore! Instead, it was be-lazy-then-run-some-errands day for me. I hit the grocery store and promptly forked over $80 (but I'm not counting that because it's not "fun money"). I should note, I'm a freaking champion grocery shopper. I could write books about my mad grocery shopping skillz, yo! Seriously, you'd ask me to shop for you if had any idea. (Which I'll gladly do, if you pay me.) ;)

I resisted having lunch with a friend... I reallyREALLYreally don't want to go over $25. So, I repeat: No fun ever happens on Monday. It has me thinking though... Before this, I must have been wasting truckloads of money, mindlessly.

Day 4, No-Fun-Monday: I spent $0! Final tally: $6 remaining. Even I'M impressed with me!

Day 3... Cheap Fun in the Sun!

2010-06-07T00:17:00.000-07:00

After last night's Subway dinner "splurge" (I know, I know, $15 isn't much of a splurge) I was a little concerned that I'd blow my final bucks all in one sitting today. My big plan was to sleep the day away, thereby preventing any spending of the cashola.

Alas, 24+ hours of sleep was not to be had. The sun was shining, beckoning me to play outdoors! I had heard about a free art festival here in Thousand Oaks called ArtWalk, so my brother and I hopped on our bikes and made our way down to check it out. I knew I wouldn't be buying anything (you can't get much art for $6!), however, I wanted to support a friend, John Manley, who was displaying his ceramics there. His stuff was so impressive - I'm always in awe when I discover how talented my childhood friends are. I've always heard the phrase "starving artist"... Well, several ArtWalk patrons purchased his ceramics while we were visiting! (Check it out here: http://www.manleysclayworks.com)

John and Mark at ArtWalk 2010

After browsing through aisles of currently-unattainable artwork and pedaling through town, my brother thought a stop at Chuy's was a good idea. He owes me about 1 million rounds of beer, so when he offered to buy, I didn't decline. We happily strolled in and happily discovered it was happy hour. Mark got us a half pitcher of Coors Light for a mere $5. I usually pay about that much for a pint! Such a deal! We munched on the free chips & salsa while sipping our cerveza, did a little people watching (Chuy's rarely disappoints in that department)and watched the extra-inning Dodger game.

All of this bike riding prove to me that I am TRAGICALLY out of shape. One hill and I was worked! I need to fit in more walking and bike riding this summer. Bonus: Less visits to the gas station if I do!

I managed to get through the day with spending nada! Goooo me! Final tally: I still have $6 to play with.

Day 2... Almost out of cash!

2010-06-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

The day started with my favorite thing ever... Baseball! So what that it was little league. My son is in the playoffs, so it was pretty decent baseball! Luckily there's no snack shack at the fields, otherwise I'd be out a lotta dollars. ("Mom, can you get me a Gatorade? And sunflower seeds? And this? And that? I won't even eat THAT but I want you to buy it anyway, because I like spending your money!") After the game, we have to pass a McDonalds on the way home. I was waiting for it.... "Mom, can I get an Egg McMuffin?" I was cringing. I didn't want to say no because I wanted a Sausage Biscuit! I mean, I know I can resist but could I turn down the kiddo who had just played 2 1/2 hours of baseball and was starving?? But... he didn't even ask. Didn't even glance at McD's! Crisis averted. So, lucky me, the morning was a cash-free start to the day!

Fast forward to the evening. I loveLOVElove going to the cemetery movies on Saturday night (http://www.cinespia.org/). Now, I know this sounds weird, and it is. The old Hollywood Forever cemetery shows totally random movies every weekend in the summer. I've seen everything from Barbarella & Easy Rider to Valley Girl & Sixteen Candles. Well, I got the email for last night and they were showing Casablanca. Casablanca! I hadn't seen it before, so this was a no-brainer.

Awesome plan, but to make the evening complete, one needs good company, so I asked mi amigo Greg to join me, and one has to bring a picnic. I was taxi-ing the kidlings around so I didn't plan ahead, thus, we ended up at Subway. I paid for dinner -$15- and Greg paid for movie admission. (Thanks, Greg!) Overall, the experience was fantastic! It was a total people watching extravaganza! Next time, I'm taking pictures, because some of te get-ups we spied cannot be explained, i.e., the old school military hat that one gal was sporting... Was she just getting in the spirit of the movie, or does she usually rock that thing? Anyhow, it seems everyone else stopped at Trader Joes for their picnics - we felt soooo uncool (not really). Overall, cemetery movie night was totally worth the price of dinner.

Still, this brings me down to... $6. Uh, yeah.

Day 1... This is Gonna be a Challenge!

2010-06-05T16:04:00.000-07:00

About 2 weeks ago, my wonderful boss planned a final work outing for June 4th- breakfast at Roxy's Deli. Any other day, this would be fine, but not on day 1 of Summer of Cheap! I was bumming out about it a little bit; I wanted to go but I didn't want to splurge on day 1! Roxy's is not well known for it's amazing breakfast deals. I guess 'The Secret' was on my side because the day after I was told about the breakfast, my newspaper arrived with a fancy, glossy ad from Roxy's. They have a really great breakfast special - 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, and bacon or sausage for only $1.99. $1.99! Problem solved! With tip, breakfast cost me $4.

I was asked to meet up at the Alamo for a 20th high school reunion planning meeting later. I figure, it was planned for happy hour, I can afford a HH beer, right? You know how those HH beers add up though, right? I arrived and ordered my Bud Light... And consumed it vewy, vewy sowwy. I couldn't resist when the waitress asked who was up for another round. So again, that beer went down in record slow time. Responsible, don't-want-to-drive-after-drinking Amy switched to water after that. When all was said and done, one of my amigos covered the bill. I was not anticipating that - but I definitely appreciate it!

So, day 1: $4 spent, $21 left. (You thought I was gonna spend it all in 1 day, didn't ya?!)