Cheap Movie Star Watching

So you didn't win the lottery for grandstand seats at next month's Academy Awards? You can still get some star-watching the night before on February 26 at the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica. These honor independent films and typically draw Hollywood's top talent. What's unique about this event is it takes place in a large tent on the beach. Security is tight, but there's plenty of room to watch limos roll up and stars roll out.

Cheap Tacos

If you're in the Beverly Hills/West Hollywood/Sunset Strip area on a Monday or Tuesday with the munchies, check out the Cabo Cantina. It's all-you-can eat sliders on Mondays for $5, with the same deal for tacos on Tuesdays. Plus, two for one drink prices from 4:00 to 8:00 daily.

Cheap New Year's Eve

Don't sit in your hotel/motel room on New Year's Eve, you can go up to Universal City Walk for music and a midnight countdown for free. Parking at City Walk after 6:00 p.m. that night will be $40. Save money by parking at the North Hollywood MTA station and taking the 15 minute Red Line subway up the hill for $3 round trip per person. Downtown Long Beach is having music and a midnight fireworks show, and you can ride city transit for free NYE night.

Cheap Transportation

It's tough getting around L.A. without a car but it can be done. Let's say you're interested in a last-minute trip to L.A. the weekend of Jan. 7-9. You can get a deal on Hotels.com for $150/night at the Santa Monica Doubletree. Take the famous Santa Monica Blue Bus to and from LAX for $3 per person, have no parking charges, walk all through Santa Monica and even take a bus to Hollywood & Highland for $3 each.

Cheap Berzerk

Get some cheap thrills by going to see Cirque Berzerk at Club Nokia at L.A. Live January 7-30. Show your Metro pass, ticket or Discount Destination card at the box office and you'll get $10 off per ticket. You can also order through Ticketmaster.com, use the promo code TRAINS and get 20% off select performances.

Cheap Christmas

Walking with the Las Posadas, what can be more L.A. than that? Plus it's free. From December 16-24, the Las Posadas celebrations begin at 6:00 at the Avila Adobe on Olvera Street near downtown. This is the Mexican tradition that re-enacts the search for a room by Mary and Joseph. For children there are pinatas, entertainment and hot chocolate.

Cheap Newport Beach

If there's ever a time that Newport Beach shines it's during the Christmas Boat Parade (December 15-19). It's a chance to see a harbor parade of incredibly decorated vessels, as well as multi-million dollar homes along the shore. While it's free to watch the parade, two slightly more expensive and fun options include the American Legion post on the Balboa Peninsula, where $15 will get you food and spot to see the event; and the Boy Scouts' Newport Sea Base, which is selling spots on their lawn for $5. Proceeds for both go to charity.