Cheap Coffee

If you're shopping around Beverly Hills one afternoon and need a pick-me-up, head to Momed, a little coffee house/bistro where from 2:30 to 5:00 every day, coffee drinks are 1/2 off.

Cheap Hollywood

Here's some cheap digs if you're looking to come to Hollywood over Thanksgiving weekend. Arrive Friday and leave Sunday for $112/night through this deal at hotels.com at the Beverly Laurel, which may not be the Four Seasons, but the Four Seasons doesn't include a two passes for Madame Toussaud's when you book.

Cheap Glee

If you're a Gleek in Santa Monica this Sunday the 6th, mean old Jane Lynch will be at the Santa Monica Main Library giving a talk and signing her new autobiography from 2:00 to 4:00. Tickets are free, but it's recommended that you get to the library's MLK auditorium early.

Cheap Halloween

If you want to take the kids for some pre-Halloween fun but you don't want the expense of a theme park, think about EEK! at the Greek on October 30. It's a "scary" symphony at the outdoor venue, but the free part of the event is a Trick or Treat Village outside the theater that will be having a costume contest with prizes. The Village opens at 5:30 and parking is free.

Cheap Beverly Hills

The happy hour from 5-7 Monday through Friday couldn't be any happier at the Mosaic Hotel in Beverly Hills. Enjoy $5 to $7 drink and food specials next to the pool while deciding on what to do next for the evening.

Cheap Art

To celebrate the big Pacific Standard Time promotion, the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA will be Free this Sunday, October 2. See Under the Big Black Sun, which showcases California art from 1974 to 1981.

Cheap Movie Classics

In Santa Monica on Wednesdays, at the new Santa Monica Place mall at the end of the Promenade, they're showing classic movies on the deck at 7:00 through October. American Grafitti is tomorrow night, and on October 5th North by Northwest will be shown with a special appearance by one of the stars, Dyan Cannon.

Cheap Fair

The L.A. County Fair is Fun, getting there is usually not. If you don't leave early enough the 10 is generally jammed and parking is a madhouse. Then you've got to hassle the traffic going home. But for $10 per person, you can avoid that hassle and take the Metrolink train, which will stop at a special station near the Fairlplex and a free shuttle will take you right to the entrance.

Cheap Wheels

This is probably the coolest, cheapest thing to do in L.A. At the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo near LAX on Sundays, you not only get to see some great classic cars, you get to ride in them. Experience the road in everything from a DeLorean to Joe Stalin's 1936 Packard. The museum operates on donations only so be as generous as you can.

Cheap Magic

There's been a lot of buzz lately about the Houdini exhibit at the Skirball Center near Mulholland. Go on Sundays through September 4 and they have strolling magicians practicing their art between noon and 2:00. It's $10 general admission, $7 seniors and students and $5 for kids 2-12.

Cheap Eagle Rock

If you're in the Glendale/Pasadena area on Sunday, July 31, you might as well slip down to the hip town of Eagle Rock, which sits between them. The town's historical society is having its annual Ice Cream Social with ice cream for $1, free music and a chance to see exhibits about some famous Eagle Rockians (like President Obama).

Cheap Traffic

If you're just coming to L.A. this weekend, Sorry! This is Carmageddon weekend, where the 405 will be shut down for bridge construction from late Friday night to early Monday morning. Because of all the publicity surrounding it, I'm expecting travel to be tight, but not impossible. Avoid Sepulveda Blvd, which paralells the 405. If you're approaching from the north, you'll have better luck with the 5, or Malibu or Topanga Canyons to PCH.

Cheap Disneyland

I know, there's no such thing as Cheap Disneyland. If you're interested in getting to the Magic Kingdom this summer, the "peak" season, there are few if any price breaks. The best deal to get the Disney experience is to buy the one-day Park Hopper ticket ($105/adults, $99 kids), get up early, slog it out all day and stay for the fireworks to get your money's worth. There are slight price breaks on the multi-day tickets, but if Disney isn't your main destination or time is short, don't hesitate to go for the "cheaper" one-day pass.

If you're near Hollywood and Highland between 4:00 and 6:30 Monday through Friday and you're ready for a break, check out the The Grill on Hollywood. During their happy hour, you can get $4 draft beers, $7 Absolute martinis and $4 and $5 appetizers that will keep you from having to go anywhere else for dinner.

Cheap Beverly Hills

Dine cheaply in Beverly Hills, as long as you keep your stub from the Getty Museum. Ingrid's Cafe on Robertson is offering their special Ingrid's Plate for 50% off (a $21 value) when you show up with your Getty receipt.

Cheap Italy

If you're coming to L.A. because you can't afford Rome, you can get some of the Italian experience at the Getty Villa. Perched between Malibu and the Palisades, this is the time of year to walk the porticos and take in the ambiance of antiquity. Just $15 per carload to park, admission is free. Call for reservations at 310-440-7300.

Cheap Star Tours

Actually, maybe not cheap, but worth it if you're into this sort of thing. Gossip site TMZ has hooked up with Starline Tours to give you a "TMZ Hollywood Tour." You're taken by all of the hot spots where celebs (mis)behave and you're supposed to be given some "juicy nuggets" from the TMZ files about what's really going on in Hollywood. (hope they have honey mustard with those "nuggets.") It's $55/adult, $45 child for two hours of fun, pick up at Grauman's Chinese Theater.

Cheap Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo can be pretty crazy in L.A., with overpriced Mexican restaurants and bars raking in the dollars for watered down margaritas. This year try celebrating at Farmer's Market. There's a huge celebration with strolling mariachis, food and drink specials from noon to 9:00 p.m.

Cheap Universe

Note that it's "Cheap Universe" not "Cheap Universal." A cool trip to L.A. can't be complete without an exclusive tour of Jet Propulsion Laboratories in Pasadena. You'll get to see where rockets and planet rovers are controlled and get filled with all sorts of fun, geeky facts. Plus it's free. Tours happen on either Mondays or Wednesdays on alternating weeks.

Cheap Memorial

The big stars can be reclusive, but an interesting look at the stars of the past can be found at the historic Hollywood Forever cemetery, that sits adjacent to Paramount Pictures. Here you'll find the final resting place of luminaries such as Cecil B. DeMille, Rudolph Valentino and Jane Mansfield. A fascinating walking tour of the famous and infamous who are buried there is available on select Saturdays and Sundays. Just $12 each.

Cheap Beverly Hills

If you're looking to splurge just a little, a bunch of posh Beverly Hills hotels are offering a special buy-two-nights-get-one-free from March through June. The best looking deal appears to be the Thompson on Wilshire, which gives you a buy two nights at $192 and get a free third night, which averages out to $128 plus tax. And, you get free breakfast for two during your stay.