Friends are great for hanging out and mooching fries off of. Life is busy though, and even bums sometimes have trouble making time to keep in touch. You can't swipe your credit card for 'em, but friends are not free. We don’t mean you have to pay them to hang out (if you're currently doing so, please re-examine your social circle), we mean that you gotta put in some effort. Don't worry, it doesn't have to be hard or expensive. We've got you covered with tips to keep in touch whether your buddy is across the hall or halfway around the world.

Chances are that you’re not the only bum you know. Meaning, if you’d choose crashing at a friends over a hotel (mostly by choice), it's likely your friends would make the same choice. Thus, you need advice on the art of being a gracious host and a considerate guest. Consider this a Miss Manners style tip sheet on how to get four stars (for less of course) as an innkeeper and patron.

There's a good reason we call our currency funny money and it's not because it usually makes us laugh. Like Eskimos and snow, we have many words for it because it's important in our culture. Moolah, dough, bread, Benjamins...however you stack your paper, chances are you have some mixed feelings about bean counting. In order to take control of your finances (and if you're broke like us, it's probably about time), you need to do a little bit of that head shrinking business. Whether on your own, with professional help, or with your support network, get to thinking hard about how you to relate the old smackaroos.

It may not be a boiling hot August, but summer isn't quite over yet. For those in cubicles or coffee shops, dreams of a break should still have time for materialization. And, if a certain flight attendant is to be believed, a staycation may be just the ticket for your summer vacation time. It can save your wallet some groaning and introduce you to a whole other side of your city. Let your crackberry rest, put an away message on your work email, and get ready for a good ol' time. Right here at home.

Many of us bums are doing freelance writing, working on our screen plays, or trying to take over the world from a corner of our bedrooms and living rooms. Though the commute is great and office attire is unbeatable, when physical space is multi-function it's a bit harder to differentiate work-time from down-time. Unless you have the money to move to a bigger home or add a floor, consider spending some time creating separate space for your work. When creating a plan for work/everything else separation, plan on organizing your private space and re-thinking the public. The space dilemma requires a bit of a mix-and-match-as-needed approach.

Life offers many occasions to celebrate, commiserate, or get toasty just because. Although the solo drink is sometimes appropriate, in general it's way more fun to drink with friends. We know footing the booze bill for a group can be expensive, so we're here to give you some pointers for doing it up bum-style.

Boy meets girl. Boy asks girl out (or vice versa; this is 2010 after all) and then freaks out about paying for impressive date(s). Hopefully not if he's been paying attention. You should know from earlier articles (kinda like the ones you can find here and here) that there are plenty of cheap date options. And, if you're looking for even more, our lady friend over at 365 Cheap Dates hooks it up with original, affordable venues for love. But, keep in mind that even the best big idea needs finishing touches.

Turns out that the Malibu sun is pretty strong in the middle of a summer day. Who knew? Oh wait. Almost everyone. Most people know that the sun can cause nasty burns and unsightly wrinkles (later though, much later). Even with this knowledge, tanning beds and natural sunshine abound. Metal reflectors may not get busted out by the pool, but over-exposure is rampant. Cheap tips to save a lot later? We got 'em.

Whether it's a 30 minute search for parking or a stack of overdue bills, life has a way of throwing you curve balls. Some of these moments require deep introspection and long-term therapy to handle calmly, but we've got a few tricks to help you fake zen. So, the next time you're faced with a "just shoot me (or the guy next to me)" moment, you can channel some RFB om and chill out.

Public speaking can be daunting. It may seem impossible to get over those shaking knees and cold sweats, but getting over trepidation can be extremely useful for goals like, say, getting a job. So, here’s your bum tip sheet for speaking up and not having a heart attack in the process.