Get a little Batty

Keep Austin Weird, right? That's the moniker (I prefer "Keep Austin Cheap" personally) that the city lives by in most things it does. So if it were to be identified with an animal, why not make it one that is blind but still flies around helter-skelter (somehow never crashing), lives in caves or under bridges, and scares most people the first few times they see them.


My recommendation is that you spend no money (or at most, some quarters for a bus trip) and check out a bat flight in the heart of our great city. Batty?

Presumably replacing the quirky Armadillo from the 60’s, Mayor Lee Leffingwell hopes to name the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat the official animal of Austin according to the Austin-American Statesman.

It isn't by coincidence either. The Congress Avenue Bridge just past downtown, has the largest urban bat population in the world! According to Bat Conservation International, the bridge has as many as 1.5 million bats living under it at times!

The best times of year to watch:

The best time to go out is usually at just before sunset, around 6 p.m. or so just to be safe. It really is a must-do for any Austinite or anyone visiting for a few days.

But don't just take my word, award-winning singer Tracy Chapman also weighs in (then check out the following song at her Austin City Limits show):

The Texas Capitol

With the music, the barbecue, the outdoors, and everything else amazing going in Austin, it's easy to forget that there's a pretty important building located on Congress and 11th Streets.

But with 22 acres of beautifully landscaped lawns, 17 monuments, and stunning historical buildings, a visit to the Texas Capitol in downtown Austin offers an exciting glimpse into Texas history and politics. The Visitors Center offers an array of exhibits and a gift shop, and the Capitol building itself displays stunning period architecture and the inner-workings of the Texas legislature. The Capitol grounds are a beautiful place to enjoy a picnic or long stroll.

Here is everything you need to know about visiting the largest Capitol in the nation:

The building is open Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on the weekends from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and true to it's Texas hospitality, you can simply walk in anytime within those hours. You can also take a free, guided tour. You may want to find out about some secret spots before you visit, that you may need to take a detour for.

If you're a non-Texan however, you may want to visit soon before these people do something crazy, and you aren't permitted to enter without some form of Texas ID!

Adult Swim Block Party for Free!

Adult Swim, the insanely popular Cartoon Network spin-off, aimed at the older 18-24 year old (usually male) demographic has taken a foothold across college campuses. During my time as an RA, I found that it was probably the most watched "channel" for my residents--sadly ahead of the news.

With more mature content and cartoons not necessarily appropriate for children, it comes on at 11 p.m. and runs through the wee hours of the night.

They're now taking their show on the road straight to the college campuses, so the experience can be enjoyed all day. Throughout the month of April, they'll be making 9 stops on their "[Adult Swim] Block Party" tour. A whirlwind tour, it'll start in Athens, GA and end back again in Richmond, VA. On April 11th, Austin will be the second leg of the trip, and it looks to provide some great free entertainment.

As of (the morning of) March 31st the facebook group had over 1,200 members. According to the page, everything will be free, and alcohol will be provided for those 21 and up. It also has the tagline "Games. Prizes. Free T-Shirts. Surprises. Possible Clown." which certainly conjures up a (not at all creepy) carnival image.

Other than the location outside Emo's and the musical performance from Fiery Furnaces, the company isn't divulging many details about the event, but I'm sure it'll be great fun...but then again, my interest was piqued at "free."

Get Outside! It is Austin after all!

They say there's about 300 days of sunshine in Austin (that's better than 82% of the year). Even if it's an off year with a paltry 275 or so, it kind of limits your excuses for not going outdoors. Outside magazine ranked Austin as it's number 4 city to live in. Forbes ranked Austin in their top 10. I rank it number one. Not only are there many fairly cheap, exhilarating opportunities, there are plenty of free ones as well.

RunTex/Jack and Adam's - If you're into running or cycling, Austin can be your sanctuary. Zooming around Town Lake, the Green Belt, or one of the other hundreds of great spots can be a joy because of the scenery and nature. Jack and Adam's is one of a dozen great bike shops in Austin offering free classes and Run Tex is (only slightly less) nationally recognized (than the Longhorn Football team) and helps promote running by offering water jugs and cups at different runner hot-spots around town.

Zilker Park - 351 of the prettiest acres in Austin make this great park a must see. If you haven't spent a significant amount of time doing something here, you're doing yourself a disservice...and if that doesn't do it for you, you can at least party at the moon tower.

Barton Springs - If you go when the sun is out to fully enjoy the 68 degree water, it costs $3 - not a substantial amount for one of the best and most popular swimming holes around. But we're about being thiftier than that here. Every morning between 5 AM and 9 AM + every evening between 9 PM and 10 PM, there is no charge for swimming at Barton Springs Swimming Pool at Zilker Park (Especially if it's a full moon)

Holi Guacamole!

Is life feeling mundane and colorless as we drudge out of winter? Want something really exciting and free to take your worries away?

Consider celebrating Holi, the Hindu Spring "Festival of Colors." Holi is celebrated by throwing colored powder and colored water at your friends. [Pictures from previous years]

When: Saturday March 27, 2010, 2-5pm

Where: Main Mall

Why: According to one legend, the festival tradition of applying colored powder comes from Lord Krishna's (one of the gods in Hinduism) complaint to his mother about the contrast between his dark skin and his love Radha’s fair skin. His mother applied color to Radha’s face to make it appear to have the same color, and the festival was born.

Celebrate with the Hindu Students Council for FREE! No matter your beliefs, everyone is welcome. They will be giving out FREE rang (the paint), FREE water balloons, FREE snacks, FREE t-shirts, and FREE prizes!

You probably want to wear a shirt you don't mind getting a little "messy," and a white shirt usually shows the colors best.

Here is a Holi video:

Save The Cathedral!

This blog is not necessarily a place for activism, but rather a celebration of Austin, and a guide to getting the most out of the city for the least. However, one Austin gem that has been FREE to visit for over 20 years, is in jeopardy of perishing, and it is this humble blogger's opinion that action is a must. Volunteer to help and you can see a place that I probably would've recommended regardless as a cool site to see, whilst also helping it endure for generations to enjoy...for free!

The future of the Cathedral of Junk, a true testament that one man's trash can become another man's treasure, has been put into jeopardy. City code compliance officers have said that the landmark in South Austin is in violation of several city codes.

Apparently the massive structure needs several building permits, ASAP. The owner of the Cathedral, Vince Hannemann, has until March 31st to bring his life's work up to code. He will have to tear certain portions down and remove sections to get into compliance. This is where you can help.

It appears that the movement is gaining steam, as the facebook group that had a little over 500 member when I joined a few days ago, is now up to over 2,000 (as of 10 p.m. on the 23rd).

That means that there are eight days for these 2,000 and others to take action and help save the cathedral. Volunteers who have already begun helping have said there is a lot to be done.

You can just show up with some closed toed shoes, some gloves and possibly some goggles - there is a lot of dust and cement flying around," said London Andrews, a local fan who plans to continue helping throughout the week. "He could use help with basic things like moving metal scraps and recycling junk."

Stimulate the Mind for Free

One way to stimulate your mind is to accelerate it and keep your energy pumping to accomplish tasks. During the entire month of March, Dunkin' Donuts is offering "Free Coffee Mondays". The only location in Austin is at 12200 Research Blvd, which is about 20 minutes north from campus. However it's a great way to get your brain going early in the morning, when Mondays have been known to be traditionally tough and laborious.

Also, consider another way of stimulating the mind (and body) that takes the almost complete opposite approach. Art of Living Foundation's Austin chapter offers a variety of free yoga and meditation classes. Some examples include: Yoga Empowerment, Hike and Yoga, and Health, Happiness, and Energy.

Selling Textooks

Unless your professor is as saintly as mine is for my Web Publishing class, you're gonna have to buy some textbooks. And I think as a society we can go ahead and update Benjamin Franklin's famous quip that three things are certain: Death, taxes, AND TEXTBOOKS BEING EXPENSIVE.

I've really got nothing more to add to the buying of textbooks other than search before you buy - you don't need them that first week - take the time to price them thoroughly. However I've got some advice for maximizing your Return on Investment.

Here are some options:

• Plan Z: The University Co-op is always there. You can check the prices of your books online before making the trek down Guadalupe to sell them back. There are also several other Co-op locations you can visit to buy and sell your textbooks. Again, I would recommend checking all the other options first.
• Beat the Bookstore: Located in the basement of Dobie Mall, just off of “campus.” Beat the bookstore buys books back (whoa, some good alliteration there), and it tries to give you more for your book than the above location. Many times you'll get better deals here, but it's smart to at least check a few websites first.
• Ecampus/Amazon/half.com: Name you price. You sell books to other students through the lovely internet. List your book on the site, punch in your asking price, and designate how much for shipping. People will contact you, and you only have to walk to the post office. This is also usually my preferred way to buy books.

One other option that will build you as much social capital as fiscal, is to talk to friends or younger people in your major, and work out a deal to say, "sell your Marketing book to them at the price the Co-op would buy it back from you." That way everyone wins. You get a fair buyback price and someone else gets a discounted buy (as there can be as much as a few hundred dollars between buy and sell prices).

Also help your voice be heard to your politicians about tax-free textbooks, it can save some money!

Hiking Tour Without Hiking Up Costs

Hiking is great for a lot of reasons; it's good exercise, it offers a time-machine into uncivilized, undeveloped terrain, it offers a breath of fresh air, etc.

Hiking is even better when it's free.

The Friends of Bright Leaf, a part of the Austin Community Foundation, offer free, guided, hiking tours through the Bright Leaf Preserve on the second Saturday and Sunday of each month. Bright Leaf, the winner of The Austin Chronicle's Best Walk in the Park, is a natural area over 200 acres in size within the Austin city limits. It offers gorgeous flora and rich fauna, as well as Texas Hill-Country geology and fossils.

Tours can be as long as four miles long, and the groups can vary in size, even as large as 100+. They have a few rules and suggestions before you begin:

• Bring a water bottle
• Dress for the weather
• No dogs
• No bikes
• No fishing
• No camping

Consult their calender for dates, or contact them directly at (512)459-7269

Even Ink is Going Green

Going green has been a hot topic for so long, it is almost too easy to find ways to help the environment. Everywhere you look are new ways to "reduce your carbon footprint" or lessen your impact. Countless businesses/companies have incorporated going green into their slogans, and -here's how you know it's big - Miley Cyrus even has a song about it.

So maybe we've done all we can do. Maybe we've hit the saturation point of wanting to hear about going green. If that's the case, then think about this post simply in terms of a way to save money and disregard the other stuff. Refilling your ink cartridges instead of buying new ones is one of those "go green" possibilities that seems to often get forgotten about. With the added benefit of reducing cost, you'd be stupid not to.

I recommend refilling at Cartridge World on South Lamar. The location is convenient, they’re open from 8-6, and you don't have to wait to get it done as they usually will trade your empty one for a refilled or remanufactured cartridge.

Their Web site provides several alarming facts about the “environmental impact of printer cartridges” such as “a laser cartridge thrown into landfill can take up to 450 years to decompose” or “70 percent of used printer cartridges throughout the world are currently being thrown out.” I highly recommend reading more, as it will definitely encourage you to take your cartridges to get refilled if you aren't doing so already.

And if you're reading this blog, you're probably chiefly interested in the saving money prospect… My printer requires an HP 56 black ink cartridge, which costs $23.99 new. However, if you take your cartridge in to Cartridge World it only costs $12.99. That’s half the price! In addition, all refilled cartridges from Cartridge World are 100% guaranteed, so if you get home and it is not printing well, bring it back and get a new one completely free of charge.

Take my advice, and your wallet & your lifestyle will have a little more green in them!

"Cost-Effecient" (Hate to Say Cheap) Date - Mount Bonnell

So you've come here for ways to keep the pocket book full, but maybe you also want to keep the love life full as well. It's almost science that these two are the antithesis of each other right? Not so fast Romeo. Don't break her heart or your bank.

Perfect for the Spring weather and some sunshine, here is a cheap idea for a day trip with that special someone.

Mount Bonnell is:

-- One of Austin’s oldest tourist attractions dating back to 1850.

-- The highest point within Austin City Limits at 785 feet,

-- A wonderful place to picnic in the sun (do it cheaply!)

-- Contains views of Town Lake and the Pennybacker Bridge (above) as well as wonderful vistas of downtown.

-- A short hike from the road and there is no entrance fee! FREE!

Plug this location into your Garmin or Iphone GPS [Or see map here]:

Mt. Bonnell Austin

3800 Mt. Bonnell Drive

Austin, TX 78731

Just be careful when going on a date. It is rumored that if a couple climbs the (approximately 100) stairs once, they fall in love, twice, they’ll become engaged, and three times, it’s inevitable they’ll get married. Do you remember Real World Austin, when Danny and Melinda first met? Well, the lovebirds met at Mount Bonnell, before moving into the house together and eventually getting married! So while the date may be free (or cheap if you splurge for a picnic of some sandwiches or the like) it might just cost you a wedding in the future!

Austin City Limits Studio tour

What if I told you that for free, you could share the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Cash, and Dave Matthews? You'd probably assume you were the winner of some contest you didn't realize you'd entered. Well...you can't actually get on stage WITH them, but you can see where they (and hundreds of other world-renowned artists) recorded at the iconic Austin City Limits studio. The award winning music series enters into it's 35th season this year and is at the very heart of the "Live music capital of the world."

The best part is you can see it all for free! Every Friday at 10:30 a.m., tours are given that show you everything from backstage and production to the infamous mock skyline that make this show so great. There are also great stories of the performers and performances.

You'll need to hurry and do it though as the studio will be moving from KLRU Studios, it's famous set located inside the College of Communications on the University of Texas campus. In February 2011, the set will officially move to it's new location inside the luxurious W Hotel near 2nd Street downtown.

Don't miss your chance to see a piece of Austin, live music history! Both the show and the studio were recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, go see what it's all about.

Iphone on the Cheap

I guess if you wanted to stick to the letter of the law, living cheaply doesn't really coalesce with being an Iphone user...but come on it's the 21st century! If you splurge on anything it should be a device that contains all your music, email, calling, and texting capabilities and excels in all of the above areas. Money saving suggestion: stick with the same company and then you can upgrade your phone for cheap, I got an Iphone for $50.

Iphones can be a lot of fun or entertainment, but they can also be very functional. I obviously only buy free apps, and have more than enough, but did you know you can also find apps to actually help you save money?

Time Magazine recently ran a story with "20 money saving apps," and 13 of them were free. Some interesting ones:

1) Yard Sale Manager (Free) - this rounds up yard, tag, garage, and rummage-type sales and places them on a map, complete with directions from where you are at.

2) Skype (Free) - rather than use your minutes, Skype makes calls over the internet, something that may allow you to scale down your plan. However, AT&T doesn't offer data-only plans.

3) Local Reuse (Free) - This service tries to a) cut down on landfill refuse and b) connect users who are getting rid of a product with someone who may be seeking a product, and connect their locations. The money could be saved if you are seeking say "a paper-shredder." Very green.

4) Stanza (Free) - This is a smaller, but free alternative to the Kindle. It can also possibly save you on the cost of some books. It currently has about 50,000 titles.

Cheap Gas??

Cheap gas is one of those famous oxymorons like jumbo shrimp, exact estimate, soft rock, etc. If you've been living anywhere besides under a rock for the past 5 years, you've probably realized gas aint cheap. But you can minimize your expenses in many ways.

1) Use alternate transportation. The bus pays for the gas, so no matter the gas price, you pay a standard fare. Best deal currently: Capital MetroBus 31-Day Pass (unlimited rides) - $28/ $14 with a student or military ID. That's cheaper than a tank of gas.

1a) You could take the proposed Austin Light Rail, which after years of delay's has an expected start date of this March.

3) If you're going to drive, make sure that you're carpooling. Not only will this make you feel better about saving the earth, but if you split the costs it can help save your wallet too.

4) Before you go out, check Austin Gas Prices to be aware of the lowest prices at gas stations closest to you. It's searchable by zip code, which is a nice feature and also maintains an up-to-date list of the lowest regular gas prices in Austin in the last 36 hours, along with maps and directions to the stations. There is a also a corresponding list for the highest regular gas prices in the last 36 hours. All prices are entered by ordinary Austin residents and it is a great way to rally as consumers and save on gasoline expenses.

-- There are also several forums and polls on the site for residents to discuss gas and transportation related queries and legislation.

-- Join the related site, GasBuddy. Sign up and pledge to report the cheapest and most expensive gas in your area. The more you report, the more points you collect and you could potentially win vouchers for pre-paid gas! Membership is completely free and this is an effective community tool to help Austinites in their quest for cheaper gas! Check out a gas price temperature map that shows you the gas prices across the nation and Texas at a glance.

5) Before driving, you should also pick up some tips to maximize your gas efficiency and keep your car purring from Fuel Ecomony, an entity of the Environmental Protection Agency.

These are my best tips for getting around Austin cheaply. Check out this interesting video by The Wall Street Journal about electric cars taking over pick-up trucks in Texas. I don’t know if that is an actual trend but it is a cool idea! If you're feeling drastic, give it a try.

Deal of the day: Every Monday is free pool at Slick Willie's. There are numerous locations around Austin.

How I got here...

Before I begin with this blog, I feel it's important to tell the situation that has led to the creation of this blog. I am in my fourth year at the University of Texas, and am in my final semester. Thus, I've been in Austin for almost 4 years. I'll be the first to tell you that Austin isn't the most expensive city to live in, and compared to similar cities is actually quite cheap (one of the MANY reasons I love it here). I have found ways to make it even cheaper. However, I feel I must divulge that some of those ways aren't available to everyone.


I do not hold a "job" in the traditional sense of being rewarded monetarily for the amount of work I do. Rather, I am a "waiter" at a sorority house in West Campus. Essentially, I work 2 nights a week, filling 32 glasses of water, setting out food, cleaning up the food, and taking out the trash. If I were to receive a fair and competitive hourly wage, it would probably be about $1.75 for the amount of work I do. Instead, I eat the chef's gourmet meals both nights I work, and lunch 5 days of the week. Even at a moderate estimate of $5 per meal, that is a $35 value, and if you include that I get to take home all the leftovers to cover snacks or other meals, it may be my biggest weapon in living cheaply. I believe that food is the easiest way to spend big, and a fairly easy way to noticeably save - it's a matter of being deliberate and conscious of what you're spending.

Being of legal drinking age, I also enjoy going out, especially to Austin's (in)famous sixth street. On any given night, there are drink specials to be had to reduce the cost of going out, even if you have that wild urge on a Sunday or Tuesday night. You can easily google Austin drink specials for a given night. You can also check out StudyBreaks breakdown or dailyhappyhour.com. Later I'll give a comprehensive look at each night of the week. Probably the best deals for downtown however are bar-tabs. I was selected to be a member of the Texas Cowboys, UT's oldest honorary service organization. We have very affordable dues at around $350, but throughout the semester will have, among many other things, 6-8 bar-tabs that are completely paid for by the organization.


I pride myself on getting the best value in anything I do. I analyze even the smallest decision to decide what gives me the best value, while factoring in satisfaction. This means, I won't buy a generic brand over a name-brand if the product is unpleasing, but will often try generic brands in an attempt to find what I like to call "treasures."

Considering that, I spend $220 for rent in prime real estate in the heart of West Campus, where apartments range from $650 - $1000. This is just one of the advantages of being a member of the Tejas Club. I truly believe that for any social organization, on any campus, anywhere in the world, it is the absolute best value. Our dues are a mere $250 a semester, and comes with a network of alumni that rivals any single fraternity chapter anywhere in the country (including Exxon-Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, CarMax founder and CEO Austin Ligon, inventor of the "Hook 'Em Horns" hand sign Harley Clark, and many others).

I realize that these opportunities to save money are not universal and from this point on will focus on things that anyone can do. I did however, want to give a bit of background on how else I've gotten the maximum college experience for the minimum price.

Free Coupon of the day:Denny's Grand Slam

breakfast: 6 am - 2 pm. [No coupon/printing necessary] You may've seen this ad during the Super Bowl on Sunday, or like myself, you may've gone last year and were waiting to see if they

did it again. There is also no fine print that prohibits receiving multiple free plates at multiple Denny's establishments... ethical dilemma. (picture from 09 Grand Slam offer)