how to have a 9-day vacation for $500

With recession going on, everything needs careful planning. Following is how I spent my Christmas.

Dec 20:
1. Go to Berkeley. Gas cost $6. Carpool (5 ppl: me, A, X, Y, Z) to Vacaville Outlet, went back to Berkeley and had dinner together ($15 including bridge toll). At the outlet, spent $26 on a CK jeans(50% off), and $25 on a JCrew sweater(50% discount with an extra 20% off). Lunch at Taco Bell ($5).

2. Slept in a sleeping bag at friend A's house for free.

Dec 21:
1. Another friend B's flight was delayed by 1 day (he was flying in from east coast), so schedule was pushed back, needed to stay at Berkeley for an extra day. Lunch free. Dinner in Chinese restaurant ($13).

2. Picked up friend B at SFO. Parking cost $6.

Dec 22:
1. Carpool from Berkeley to LA. $21 gas shared by 3 ppl, each $7. Stop by Coalinga for lunch ($9 McDonald).

2. Slept at friend C's house in LA for free for 3 nights. Needed to sleep on the floor.

3. Bought Universal Studios ticket at student discount for $46.

4. Had dinner at LA new Chinatown for $10. Met up with friend D, went to Hollywood Blvd.

5. 3 days at LA would cost an estimate of $16 of gas. Shared by 4 ppl, that's $4 each.

Dec 23:
1. Spent the day at Universal Studio with A, B, C and A's friend E. Lunch cost $9. Parking $12 shared by 5 ppl, $2 each.

2. Dinner at a Guangdong restaurant for $10.

3. Went to Santa Monica beach.

Dec 24:
1. Bought EBay Disney tickets for $50 each. There's risk, but the tickets worked. Parking $12, $3 each.

2. Spent the whole day at Disney, with A, B, C and B's friend F. Very short lines. Parade. Fireworks. Breakfast at McDonalds for $4. Lunch and Dinner at Disney cost $16.

Dec 25:
1. Rainy day. Went to Rodeo drive and Beverley Hills. Had lunch in the same Guangdong restaurant for $13. Dinner at Chinatown restaurant for $10.

2. Picked up E at his home. Carpool (me, A, B, C, E) to Vegas, gas $4 each.

3. Checked in at Vegas Bally's. $250 for 3 nights. Shared by 5 ppl, that's $50 each.

Dec 26:
1. Went to Spring Mountain Rd Chinatown for lunch. Worst Shanghai restaurant I've ever been to. Very bad experience: long lines, bad taste, 15% tip included in bill. $9 each.

2. Waited 2 hours for Paris Le Village Buffet. $27 each for dinner. Overall good.

3. Started from Bally's and visited most of the casino on South Strip. Lost about $25 playing slots ($20 at New York New York).

4. Went to a strip club after midnight, with B and C. Play it Again, Sam is the nearest one we can find, just opposite the restaurant we had lunch that day. Admission $10. One soda $7. Tips for the Dancers $4. B paid for a private dance for $20 plus tip. None of us had previous club experience. I had to ask the cashier at Bally's to change 3 $5 bills to 15 $1 bills...

Dec 27:
1. Had lunch at McDonald's for $7.

2. Went to Hoover Dam. Parking $7, shared by 5 ppl, $1 each.

3. Had dinner at Hacienda? Casino Buffet, near Hoover Dam. $10 each. Visited casinos on North Strip.

4. Went to see Jubilee! with A, B and C. Used 2-for-1 coupon, $47 each. Table seat right in front of the center stage.

5. Played slots at one of those QuickHits machines in Paris. $20 came in, $115 came out in just 30 mins. Meanwhile, E won $500 playing maximum bet wheel-of-fortune slots at PH. Others all lost small sum of money.

Dec 28:
1. Met up with friend D before lunch. Had to cram 6 ppl in my Civic sedan.

2. Had lunch at another restaurant in Vegas Chinatown. It's good this time. $13 each.

3. Hotel check-out. Played slots again for 2 hours. Lost $45.

4. Had dinner at Panda Experess for $7.

5. Dropped off B at Vegas's airport. He's heading back.

5. $2 iced coffee before going back to LA. $15 gas in Vegas, shared by 5 ppl ($3 each). Trip back to LA cost $4 each.

6. Slept on the floor at C's house.

Dec 29:
1. Dropped off C at his LA office. Had breakfast at McDonald's for $4, including an iced coffee. Refueled car, then started heading back to Berkeley.

2. Drove from 10:30am to 5pm. Stopped by Coalinga for lunch at Subway ($5). Gas shared between me and A. $10 each.

3. Drove back to home after dropping off A at Berkeley. $6 gas.

Total Cost: $494+($6 for bottled water etc.) = $500.

PS. Car front bumper scratched a really high curb. It would cost an estimate of $200 to repaint.