Cheap Things to Do

Things to do for $10 or Less

Go to Boomers.
Batting cages - 30 pitches for $2
Bumper boats - $5.99
Go Karts - $6.99
Kiddie Rides - $2.50
Mini Golf - $7.99
Rock Wall - Two climbs for $5.99

Prices valid at Boomers of Fountain Valley, 16800 Magnolia St. (714) 842-1111.

Go to Nickel Nickel.

Admission is $1.95 and there are 25 free games available (though only about half of them work). The rest of the games generally cost two nickels. Many video games and several ticket games with a prize booth, ranging from five-ticket army men to an IPod.

Nickel Nickel in Huntington Beach is at 7454 Edinger Ave. (714) 847-2191.

See a Classic Movie on the Big Screen.

Orange County Regency Theatres play old flicks and cult classics on Wednesday evenings for $10. Some notable films coming up include "Wayne’s World" (Oct. 14), "Pink Floyd The Wall" (Oct. 28), "Full Metal Jacket" (Nov. 18), "The Goonies" (Dec. 2). For an updated list of films, click here. Movies begin at 7:30 p.m.

Buy T-shirts.

Five for 10 Warehouse in Fountain Valley is huge, and has blank T-shirts in a variety of colors. Just like the name says, get five T-shirts for $10. They also have a bunch of other clothes available for decent prices.

Go to the zoo.

At The Santa Ana Zoo adult admission is $8. Admission is $4 Monday through Thursday after 2 p.m.

The zoo is at 1801 East Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana. (714) 836-4000.

Play pool.

The Q Club in Costa Mesa offers games for $10 per hour. Bar tables are 75 cents.

The Q Club is at 1525 Mesa Verde Drive East. (714) 662-2262.


Things to do for $5


Eat ice cream.

Yay! Participating Baskin Robbins stores offer $1 scoops on Tuesdays. However, Rite Aid offers Thrifty ice cream all week long at $1 per scoop.

See a Movie.

Charter Centre Cinemas in Huntington Beach offers movies for $3. They show movies that are a few months old, but not quite on DVD yet. Also, refreshments are decently priced including $1 hot dogs. For an updated list of movies click here.
The Cinema is located at 7822 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach.

Go bowling.

At Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley bowling costs $4.50 an hour, Monday through Friday. On Wednesdays, Bowling is $1.99 an hour.

Fountain Bowl is located at 17110 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley.

Things to do for Free

Go to Disneyland.

The happiest place on earth offers free admission to visitors on their birthday. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Government issued IDs are required. Offer ends Dec. 31. Click here to make a reservation.
Disneyland is located at 1313 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim.

Go to a museum.

For the refined cheapskate, many local museums offer a free admission day once a month.

Bowers Museum - Admission is free on the first Sunday of every month. The Bowers Museum is at 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana.
Orange County Art Museum - Admission is free on the second Sunday of every month. Orange County Art Museum is at 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach.
Norton Simon Museum of Art - Bring your student ID and get in free every day. Otherwise, admission is free on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 9 p.m. The Norton Simon Museum of Art is at 411 W Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.
The Getty Center - Admission is always free. On Saturdays, parking is free after 5 p.m.(they are open until 9 p.m.), otherwise, it is $15 The Getty Center is located at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles.
The Griffith Observatory - Admission is always free. The Griffith Observatory is located at 2800 E Observatory Ave., Los Angeles.

See art galleries.

The Santa Ana Artist District has an open house on the first Saturday of every month. Get there early, the free wine and food goes quick.
The artist district is in Downtown Santa Ana near Fourth and Main streets.

See a concert.

Amoeba Records in Hollywood and Fingerprints Records in Long Beach frequently hold free in-store concerts. It is recommended that you arrive early, because for most concerts, admission is based on a first-come first-served basis.

Amoeba - Past performers include Bright Eyes, Quentin Tarantino Paul McCartney. Click here for a list of current shows. 6400 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood.
Fingerprints - Past performers include Iron and Wine, Black Lips, and Rilo Kiley. Click here for a list of current in-stores. 4612 E. Second St., Long Beach.

Go on a balloon ride.

Orange County Great Park in Irvine offers free rides in a big, orange, tethered helium balloon. It goes up to 500 feet up. The rides run Thursday through Sunday. Click here for hours and holidays. Call ahead to make sure weather conditions are compatible and to check availability. (866) 829-3829.
The Great Park is off Sand Canyon and the 5 Freeway in Irvine.

Visit the Huntington Beach street fair.
On Main Street in Huntington Beach, there is a free street fair every Tuesday evening. There is free live music and inexpensive attractions and food as well as a farmer’s market