Pre-Trip Notes: Can a Cheapskate get any cheaper?

That is the question.

I want to bang out whatever is left of myVegas. Eat really cheap crap like Mermaids hot dogs and White Castle burgers. Chill at the pool for hours and get bronzerer. Enjoy a concert and a broadway show (already pre-booked, so I guess that's not cheap)!

Yet....I want to shop.

I want to shop like mad. Hmm...how do I balance this desire to shop with a desire to be cheap?

I am seriously questioning whether I will be gambling, just as an experiment. But I really want to play at least a little, but I just really like the idea of a no-gambling trip.

I am also very interested in photography. Turning this trip into a mini photo shoot. We'll see how that goes.

Oh yeah and I hope to do tons of partying! And....this is a solo trip as usual.

 

Fellow cheapskater here -- and yes we can always find a way to get even cheaper. For shopping even some of the nicer stores like Macy's have apps that will give you coupons to use in the stores. I am drawn to the racks that have the big sale sign. Val

 

The question really is: Is it cheap as an economic need (at which point maybe a near-at-hand staycation or even fun at-home improvement project makes more sense than Trip Nth across the country), cheap as a hunt or cheap for the appearance of somehow being cheap?

S-girl, you know how to get 'er done. So go get 'er done as only you can!!

 

Im right there with you in being cheap. Other than one Wicked Spoon Buffet, I plan on eating nothing expensive, I have comp rooms and my other room is only 30 bucks, I have my show through Myvegas.

I too am a into photography and am going to be doing ALOT of photos while I am there.

 

If you play a game to get free stuff you will be far better of putting your time and effort into something useful. People seems to think they are getting free stuff for some reason, and i guess that is true if they would play the game even without the rewards.

 

I just want to chime in regarding the Mermaids hot dog. Cheap yes, good no. Had it last weekend. I need a Chicago dog on a poppy seed bun with onions, tomato slices and sport peppers.
And nobody please mention that crap dog they serve at the D.

 

Don't be a food snob, Joe.

 

cheapskate getting cheaper. Well a lot of my expenses is with my hotel. I usually stay downtown but I usually check with Kayak to find cheaper digs to stay at. The other year prices were high and the lowest rate was a best western on paradise road (mardi gras inn, no longer a best western though). I still haven't sunk down to staying at hostels in vegas, the price is usually only $10 a night higher to stay at a hotel downtown and to me it is well worth paying to stay in a hotel casino over a hostel.

Food, for breakfast I usually just go to McD's for their dollar menu. buy my OJ at walgreens or ABC. Dinner - hard to go wrong with in n out. I usually hit the restaurants after 11 pm for their graveyard specials (market st. café at the cal). I will also go to jack in the box or Wendy's (or mcd's) for their dollar menu.

Shopping: I go to the premium outlets, usually the south one because they have more lower end stores than the north outlet. When I'm in the mood I also check out Ross' (many locations). I also go to Fallas Paredes http://www.fallasparedes.com/index.html. They seem to have more of a latin clientele (hope I don't anger anyone with the term, it wasn't meant to be derogatory). I have found cheap polo shirts ($3) that I could use for golfing and not worry about ruining them. Last month I found some sheets (king that I used for my sofa) for only $3!

I admit that I am a cheapskate for most things so that is a big factor in where I stay and where I shop. Not sure about the not gambling though, that is the primary reason I go to vegas so I can't see going there and not gambling.

 

lol, never thought I'd hear that in a reference to me!

 

I have infinite faith in your abilities. You know how to get it done. Of course, there are ways to shop cheaper and you know how to apply your skills there.

I think where you're getting yourself caught is integrating shopping into your Vegas trips. Justifying shopping if you will. Justifying the expense when your whole game in Vegas is how low you can roll. The 2 seem at odds with each other. I think if you can reconcile that the 2 are not at odds with each other. The 2 can peacefully co-exist, you'll be fine with it.

The first step is to justify your purchases. You can get as detailed as you like. I make a list of luxury or treat items that I wouldn't normally buy. I usually get a good bargain and "it was on my list" so it's OK. Follow me?

The next step is to justify the time spent shopping. From what I know of you, you're busy. You don't have a lot of free time unless you're on a trip. You probably know Vegas better than some people know their own home towns. You know where and how to get the deals. To me, it makes perfect sense that you would do some leisurely shopping on vacation. You've got the time, the energy and you know you're getting a deal. I don't see how that's a problem.

Let me loop this back to your budget and the how low can I roll game...What you're actually doing while shopping in Vegas is saving yourself time, aggravation and money in having to shop at home. You're taking your home shopping budget and spending it in Vegas. So, there's no real added expense there. In fact, I would argue, you are in fact saving money by shopping in Vegas.

You're welcome.

 

more importantly I never thought I'd ever see Kev play that card, ha