Gas prices killing you? Ticket prices outrageous? Live out of town?  Cause while I love to hang out at Paddy O's before the game and have a few frosty ones a the park and enjoy a hotdog and some peanuts during the game and head over to Shannon's Steak & Seafood for a steak and see a few players, I can't afford it every time. Here are a few tips I thought I'd share with everyone to help you get to a few extra games a year.

•  Avoid Stub Hub at all costs.
•  Get your tickets on eBay.
•  Go to weekday games. Most sellers on eBay sell below ticket    price on the weekday games. Where they make their money is on weekend games and Cub/Cards.
• Don't go when they are playing the Cubs. Remember, we're trying to do this on the cheap and paying 10x face value isn't on the cheap.
• Eat before you get to the game.
• Bring a small cooler bag. You can bring water or soda bottles into the game as long as they are not opened. A bottle of water or soda at Busch is $5. You can get a six pack of soda bottles for $5 at the store.
• Buy your peanuts at the grocery store. Same as the soda, as long as they aren't open you can bring 'em in.
• Use priceline.com to book a hotel. While you don't get to pick the exact hotel you stay in you pick the area and you aren't never far from Busch. Last time I went down I hopped on priceline the day before the game and got a room at the Hyatt at Union Station for $60. If you walk in and ask for a room it'll run you $129. You can save more by just driving home after the game but I thought I'd include this in case you'd rather get some sleep instead of hitting the road after the game.  Also don't book far in advance. Do it the night before.  This is the one case planning to far in advance will hurt you. You are more likely to get a better rate the day before than trying to book it weeks in advance.
• If you are staying at a hotel just park at the hotel and walk to the game. If it's a little farther than you care to walk, park in one of the decks 4 blocks north of the stadium. Most only charge $5 for game parking. Parking next to the stadium is going to run you $15 to $20.

 Last year I went to 4 games. This year I'll be going to 8/9 games and all for the same price as last year. All I had to do was cut out one of my "all out" games and I was able to attend a few extra this year. For those of you who can't imagine a ballgame and not drinking but want to do it on the cheap I suggest the following two options. First being that the moment tickets go on sell at the beginning of the year you buy tickets for a game in the Left Field Landing. They'll run you about $65-$75 a pop but it's all the beer, soda, hotdogs and nachos you want. It's about the cheapest all inclusive areas at Busch. Second option is bring your soda as I suggested and bring a hip flask with you. I haven't done this myself but I've seen a few guys mixing their own in the bathrrom a few times. But at $7+ a mixed drink, can you blame them?

 Well I hope this helps someone out there and remember, with all this money I just helped you save you can afford to buy me a beer. Seeya at the game!