Oh, to be rich.I'd have breakfast at Thomas Keller's Bouchon at The Venetian, lunch at Wolfgang Puck's Spago at The Forum Shops at Caesars and dinner at Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak at MGM Grand, in between spa treatments and working out.

But since I'm not rich, and maybe you're not either, the best we can hope for is thrift. By paying the least amount possible for certain necessities – like beer and deep-fried Twinkies – we can splurge in other places...like on that lobster corn dog appetizer at Michael Mina's Seablue at MGM Grand.

We've assembled a guide to $1 (or less!) delights. Whether you want to make that federal tax rebate go a little further, or you've splurged a bit more than expected, we're here to help you extend your cash as far as it can stretch – $1 at a time.

FOOD
Now, first it must be stated: You can think about your waistline, or you can think about your wallet. But considering both at the same time isn't exactly an option when you're on the cheap. Unless that consideration simply means limiting (but not eliminating) your daily consumption of deep-fried Twinkies and deep-fried Oreos at Mermaids Casino on Fremont Street. These greasy delights are topped with powdered sugar and chocolate sprinkles, and kill your appetite for a good while after consumption.

But in case (and encase) they don't, there's also a $1 hot dog you can get at the same joint. Hot dogs, it seems, are actually the most common protein in the under-$1 category. You'll also find the encased meat specials at Slots-A-Fun Casino, Riviera, South Point, Gold Coast and Suncoast.

For palates in search of less processing, there's the old Vegas standby: the shrimp cocktail. Downtown's Golden Gate has been serving it since 1959, and the snack is only 99 cents. The same goes for Terrible's Casino (if you have a coupon) on Paradise Road. It's a true crustacean revelation, at that price.

And then, there's happy hour – the feeding frenzied time for cheapskates like us. What better excuse to cut prices than the early evening hours, between 4 and 6 p.m. and early morning hours between 2 and 4 a.m. (Monday through Friday). In those time slots, you'll find 34 PT's taverns across the Las Vegas Valley offering all kinds of food and drink specials, including sliders and quesadillas for only 99 cents. How does this place stay open?

DRINK
Sweet, cold and colorful, the ever-popular daiquiri is available in downtown Las Vegas at bargain basement prices. Head over to La Bayou Casino on Fremont Street, where you'll find 13 flavors, each available for $1. If that's too many for you to choose from, Mermaids has a more dainty selection, offering eight flavors for the same price. If you're in more of a tequila mood, head over to Slots-A-Fun or Casino Royale for their cheap, cheap margaritas.

And then there's beer. There are enough beer specials going on at any given time to fill a football field with those ubiquitous beer-filled footballs – though you won't be finding that particular cup for less than $1. You will find Michelob at Casino Royale, Heineken at Terrible's (with a coupon), Corona at The Western Hotel and Casino, Tecate at the Gold Spike Hotel, draft beer at O'Sheas Casino, any of the house brews at Ellis Island Casino and Brewery and pints at Triple 7 Brewpub inside Main Street Station during its graveyard special (midnight to 7 a.m.). For less than a five-spot, you'll be floating toward beer heaven.

ENTERTAINMENT
It's not easy to find $1 blackjack these days. But while you're at Slots-A-Fun, eating your nearly free hot dog and drinking your next-to-nothing margarita, you can also play $1 blackjack. And, you can actually bowl for $1 a game (as long as it's after midnight Sunday through Thursday) at the Suncoast, Gold Coast, The Orleans and Sam's Town should all that blackjack get you in the gutter (couldn't resist).

Then there are the pseudo-carnies barking for your hard-earned George Washingtons at the Carnival Midway at Circus Circus. Try your hand at games such as balloon darts, hoopla, tic-tac-toe and camel chase – and if you're lucky, that $1 mixed with your skill could win a plush prize.

But a prize of a different kind awaits you near St. Mark's Square at The Venetian. Here, if you hand $1 to the statue people, they'll actually break character to take it – and maybe even do a little jig for you.

GRATUITY
Lest we forget, there's tipping. This is entertainment in and of itself, in that warmest and fuzziest of ways. One dollar will work wonders (and, well, $5 even more so) at the valet, the bell desk, the strip club, and on and on. So if you're looking at your last dollar, considering whether to spend it on that hot dog at Slots-A-Fun or the red-flavored daiquiri downtown, you may want to consider where your car is. And whether you'll need to pay someone to get it back.