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.

It's that time of time of year, children! Tuition is up, classes are cut, making it tougher than ever to continue our education. Moreover, not only do we have to pay for tuition, books, an supplies, some of us even have to cover room, board, coffee, and the occasional drink. (We need to stay sane somehow). Lucky for you, I’ve got a little tip that may help you keep a bit more cash in your pockets: Community College. I know, most of you cringed when reading that, but please let me make my case before saying 'no thank you'. The community college experience does not have to be that of high school with ashtrays. Whether you are thinking about returning to school for the first time in a while,deciding that paying for a university right off the bat is just too much, or just at a crossroads in your life, community college could the answer you're looking for.

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.

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.

I was very excited when Rent.Food.Broke. contacted me about writing an article for them about saving money on groceries. I know Rent.Food.Broke focuses on staying under a $10 limit. Well, I spend about $10 a week on groceries for each per person in my family. Yep, that's right, just $50 a week for my family of five. This includes all our food, diapers, toiletries and paper goods. If you'd like, you can check out my most recent shopping trip.

Memorial Day has officially come and gone and summer is on the brink of being here. In LA that means you exchange your Uggs for flip flops and expect to sport the swimwear. In most towns, bums would be exempt from the "gotta look good at the pool," but this is a tough town with high expectations. We're not dieters, exercisers, or sports buffs, but we do like to feel good (or close) when we strut our stuff. We aren't shooting for six packs (except of free beer), just a few ways to combine saving money with looking hot.

We always recommend cooking at home or hitting up a small local joint with entrees under ten bucks, but we know there are special occasions when you end up splurging. If you have a special event coming up, budget for it in advance by putting a couple bucks aside every week. It may not seem like much in the moment, but it can add up to some serious cash. When you've got your funding, choose wisely and use a couple of our tricks to make the most of your funds. LA is a major city and, luckily for you, that means some major deals.

Sometimes "I'm Sorry Officer" isn't enough. I was talking to this guy not too long ago and he was telling me about his $350+ in parking fines and how he was picking up extra hours at work to make it up. $350!! That's not small change. In some places, you could get ticketed and then towed immediately, putting you out a wad of cash and out of a car. Tickets can happen to anyone, but there are steps you can take to minimize the likelihood of it happening to you, and save yourself money and headaches in the process.

After reading our previous article on the movies, you know where to find deals, which is key to movie watching. However, for maximum fun, snacks are necessary. Concessions are super expensive so don't look there if you're on a budget (and we know you are). There are certain factors to consider for picking and packing the perfect nibbles, so read on for time tested advice. Despite what you may have heard, most theaters don't have a rule against bringing in food, especially if it was purchased in the same mall as the theater. Please note: we do not advocate for doing illegal things, so if the theater has a policy against bringing in outside consumables, we didn't tell you to.

We've all been hearing that sharing is caring line since kindergarten. It may feel cliche, but there's another aspect to the concept of sharing when you're low on funds: namely that borrowed, traded, and gifted stuff doesn't cost you anything. Additionally, other people's stuff is always cooler than yours. A pretty slick trick is to scout out which friends have the best stuff. It's a good bet that your handy construction worker buddy probably has a hammer. But what if you don't have a construction worker buddy? Then this is the article for you.