When I first signed on for the Young & Frugal Challenge, I was skeptical that I’d be able to complete it successfully. How could I possibly plan a date for two involving food, alcohol and entertainment with only $40.00 in a city like Los Angeles? I was most concerned that I’d go over budget with extra costs accumulated throughout the night that we often overlook, such as parking and tipping. However, I’m proud to say I was able to plan a fantastic night out for a grand total of $35.85, and this is how I did it.

First of all, every Young & Frugal reader should know that happy hour is a God-send for people on a budget. Although I’m usually never out and about early enough to take advantage of such discounts, I’m often surprised with the price cuts some of my favorite restaurants and bars offer between the hours of 5-7 PM. My night started with meeting my date at El Toro Cantina, early enough for a happy hour drink. Neighborhood parking was a nightmare, so I spent $1.00 to park at a meter. But libations were only $8.00 total, and they came with a basket of chips and salsa! We tipped the bartender $2.00, and made our way to destination number two.

Before we embarked on this adventure, my date for the evening suggested we check out LACMA. After doing a little preliminary research, I found out that admission is free after 5 PM on Fridays (although, donations are encouraged). Even better, parking in one of the nearby lots is free after 7 PM. So, basically, after 7 PM you can visit the museum for free! This is exactly what we did. However, it should be noted that visiting the musuem for free gives you limited access to some of the exhibits and screenings (basically the main reasons why you’d even want to go to LACMA in the first place) so next time I visit, I’m definitely paying the $20 bucks. Worth it!

We were quite famished after extensive walking through pretentious exhibits of modern art and environmentalism, so we decided it was time for some dinner. Luckily, we were only five minutes away from best burgers in town. Although Umami Burger sounds like the newest hipster chain that asks for your first-born in exchange for an order of fries, it’s actually very reasonable and we were able to walk away from our table satisfied for only $20.85 plus a $4.00 tip.

In conclusion, this experiment in the art of budgeting taught me three things I’d like to share with other Angelenos who’d like to do the same.

One: You can find fun forms of entertainment on a budget, it just takes a little planning.

Two: Watch out for costs associated with parking! I saved $9.50 during my night out just by avoiding valet, flat-rate lots, and by being willing to circle for nearby metered parking. However, be cautious and read the neighborhood signs to avoid getting a ticket, or even worse, towed.

Three: Take advantage of free local events, and almost free local events (like happy hour at the local bar!).

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