St. Augustine On The Cheap

By Glenn Judah
Published in November 2007 issue of Drift Magazine
Link: St. Augustine On The Cheap

Is the price tag of fun getting in the way of life? You’re not alone. The housing prices in St. Johns County leave locals little leftover play money. More than 8,000 local residents spend at least 35 percent of their income on rent each year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

There are ways to combat these financial situations and live well on the cheap. Read on:

Tip 1: Don’t be too cool for coupons

Coupons are not only for the guy wandering St. George Street rocking orange crocs and white socks, jean shorts, a fanny pack and a T-shirt that says “I heart Florida.”

The “Big Fat Coupon Book” might be targeted toward tourists, but that doesn’t mean local residents can’t exploit its savings.

Swallow your pride and grab a copy at the St. Augustine’s Visitor Information Center. Inside one can find $1 off a tour of the wax museum. Wait, skip that page, keep flipping, keep flipping, stop! Look, a coupon for 10 percent off at Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille.

Local Mike St. Germain proudly uses coupons every day in St. Augustine.

“My wife and I use them at bars and pubs especially,” St. Germain said. “Five dollars off is five dollars saved.”
This booklet features 10 percent off coupons for a dozen restaurants. For some, such as Harry’s, O.C. White’s Seafood and Spirits, The White Lion and Kingfish Grill, the savings is for the entire check, including bar tab. Others include food only.

With coupons, it pays to read the fine print.

Cheap meals are not the only steals to be found. This book also offers 10 percent coupons for the San Sebastian Winery and the Tini Martini Bar. There are even coupons for IHOP, which can take care of the morning hangover caused by that discounted bottle of wine.

Check out bigfatcouponbookonline.com for discounts on activities, attractions, ghost tours, golf, lodging, shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Click on a listing to get printable coupons.

The “St. Augustine Sightseeing Map and Guide” is also a good source for money-saving coupons. Get 10 percent off at Paradise Burger, Mill Top Tavern, Hurricane Patty’s, Great Cup of Coffee and Son of a Fish. You may find this publication at most of the trolley stops and information huts that line St. George Street. Also, don’t forget to ask for a locals’ discount when you shop.

Tip 2: Know your happy hour

The term “happy hour” could be interchangeable with “spending little money to have fun time.” But that’s not very catchy. No one says, “Let’s go to this bar because they have a great ‘spending little money to have fun time.’” They say, “Hurry up, we’re missing happy hour.”

Eric Hopkins, a 21-year-old who has lived in St. Augustine for the past four years, knows this well.

“I’ve easily saved money by making use of happy hours,” Hopkins said. “You can develop a trend or ritual throughout the week by which ones you go to.”

One of his happiest hours is 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Fridays at the Conch House, which includes free wings.

Besides happy hours, bars and restaurants have regular specials throughout the week offering cheap appetizers and drink specials. The food is not going to be five-star caliber, but who on a budget can turn down a 25-cent wing or beer?

Here is a sample week in the life of a partier on a budget

• Monday is 25-cent wing night at Scarlet O’Hara’s Bar and Restaurant

• Tuesday is 25-cent beer night at Panama Hattie’s

• Wednesday is 50-cent beer night at St. George Street Tavern

• Thursday is “Drinkin’ with Lincoln” at The Giggling Gator Pub. $5 all you can drink drafts from 9-11 p.m.

• Friday and Saturday get free drinks from 10:30-11 p.m. at The Dune’s Cracker House

• Sunday take the night off, you deserve it.

Tip 3: Sharing is caring (and saving)

Eating out with friends can be fun and cheap, especially if you hit the restaurants where the appetizers and entrees are large enough to feed your whole apartment.

Kelly Holleran, who works at Sangrias Wine and Piano Bar, loves to share the chips and beans appetizer with friends at Pesky’s Baja Grill.

“Pesky’s is the best deal on the beach,” Holleran said. “The chips and beans is a meal in itself.”

Her other favorite meal to share or save to cut down on cost are the sandwiches at Flavors Eatery.

“Flavors has huge sandwiches,” She said. “It’s like three meals in one. It’s so massive and good.”

Michael O’Donnell and his friends like to take advantage of the menu at Acapulcos because of its food portion to price ratio.

“We split and cut things up in half,” O’Donnell said. “The appetizers and all the portions are very big. This saves money.”

Tip 4: Do free things

This one sounds simple but is sometimes hard to do. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is making it a bit easier with its Night Owl Cinema Series, which provides two free movies a month.

The feature attractions for November are “Raiders of the Lost Ark” on the 9th and “Elf” on the 21st. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., and the shows start at 8 p.m.

Other often-ignored opportunities are the local parks, free events at Flagler College and going to the beach.

Try to find free ways to do the things you usually pay for, such as by getting a book at the library instead of at the book store.

Tip 5: Splurges are necessary

Saving money is no fun if you don’t blow it occasionally. This ability to treat ourselves makes the world a better place.

Mary Carmen, owner of Gutie Art Boutique just off St. George Street, treats herself to Claude’s Fudge Shop.

“Claude’s has the best chocolate in town,” Carmen said. “If you have $10 extra, it’s worth it.”

Sangria’s employee Holleran loves to splurge on coffee.

“The Snicker-doodle frozen coffee drink from City Perks is out of this world,” Holleran said. “It’s three to four bucks, but it’s so delicious.”

Hopkins spends big any time he goes to the Casa Monica bar, where the martinis run at $11.

“I can spend triple digits easily at that bar,” Hopkins said.

So, to review: Clip some coupons, find your happy hour, share some food, take advantage of the free, but don’t forget to splurge. These tips can make life on the cheap seem welcomed.

ST. AUGUSTINE’S BEST DEALS

The Betty Griffin House Thrift Shoppe: Bag days. Once a month, this thrift store offers the best deal in town, $5 for all the clothes, purses, shoes, belt and ties you can fit in a bag. Deal. Located in the plaza at the corner of SR 312 and A1A. Call 471-4716 for dates.

Fort Matanzas: Good, clean, free fun. Take the ferry out to Rattlesnake Island to explore the fort, fish from the beach or walk the nature trails. For more info call 471-0116 or go to nps.gov/foma.

Chick-Fil-A Mondays: All-You-Can-Eat Chicken nuggets. $7. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 1752 US 1. 810-2201. Get it while the nuggets are hot; management said the deal won’t be continued for too long.

Look around: There are these things your tax dollars pay for, called public facilities, that are there for you to use. There are racquetball courts, baseball fields, volleyball courts, dog parks, and skate parks just waiting for you to come and play, free of charge. Get more info by going to the county website at co.st-johns.fl.us, and clicking on Parks & Recreation under the Departments drop-down menu.