Enjoying New York on a tight budget

The Big Apple is one of the most expensive places in the world, but Lauren Fairbanks of www.lifestylermag.com, a New York City budget blog, knows how to tour the city on a shoestring.

Her first tip? Check out Prospect Park in Brooklyn, which has free music and dance acts during summer months.

For comedy, Fairbanks recommends the complimentary midnight performances on Wednesdays at the UCB Theater.

And take a free ride on the Staten Island ferry, which provide a great vantage point for photos of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.

Some other options:

Entertainment: Podcast personality Brian Peters, of www.nodebtworldtravel.com, is an avid traveler. He recommends free tours through Big Apple Greeters. This not-for-profit organization is staffed by volunteers who greet travelers in more than 20 languages and offers free tours with a strict "no tipping" policy (although the group is seeking donations). More information: www.bigapplegreeter.org.

Food: Pamela Parisi of www.theeleganttightwad.com, a frugal fashion and money-saving website, dines for a buck in midtown Manhattan. Her menu includes pizza for $1 a slice at Bros Pizza and Z Deli. Poultry fans can score Southern-fried goodness at Piece of Chicken for a buck, and fresh produce is sold for $1 per pound at the Stiles Farmers' Market.

When in a rush, Parisi buys hot dogs for a buck a piece from her favorite vendor carts.

Lodging: Pauline Frommer, author of "New York City: Spend Less See More," had the inside scoop on where to rest your head on a budget.

Dorm-style rooms can be booked at the Gershwin Hotel (www.gershwinhotel.com) for as little as $39 per bunk per night, according to Frommer.

Low-cost museums: Many New York museums offer flexible admission prices or other discounts.

For example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has "recommended" prices of $20 for adults, $15 seniors and $10 for students.

Those are suggested prices, and visitors can pay any amount — no matter how small — to tour the museum. Of course, it's good to support the Met by paying full fare, but if your budget is tight, remember prices are flexible.

Free museums include the Forbes Galleries, with displays of collectible toys and other objects, and the Sony Wonder Technology Lab, which offers free exhibits, entertainment and high-tech labs.

Get more information on New York sights, deals and free events at www.nycgo.com, the city's tourist office.