ShopEatSleep

Asa Meza ceviche. From Asa Meza.

If you’re like me, you want to enjoy the finer things in life, but you can’t always afford it. That’s when knowing where to score some reasonably priced eats (sometimes free!) at some of Los Angeles’ up-and-coming restaurants and bars comes in handy.

Two new deals from Asa Meza and Now Boarding should whet your appetite.

On Thursday, March 19, Latin- and Asian-inspired restaurant Asa Meza is hosting a Hollywood Social Night from 6 to 10 p.m. Go to check out the menu, craft cocktails and beers while also enjoying complimentary appetizers.

Asa Meza
1718 Vine St.
Hollywood, CA 90028

Blackjack Smash at Now Boarding. From Now Boarding.

At Now Boarding, a travel-inspired bar in West Hollywood, Sunday nights are now “You Don’t Know Jack” nights. Starting at 9 p.m., enjoy free live music from funk, soul and R&B bands, as well as happy hour-priced $9 specialty Jack Daniels cocktails. Considering these kinds of cocktails are usually $14, this is a bargain.

Cocktails include:

~Tiny Dancer with Jack Daniel’s whiskey, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, passion fruit and prosecco
~Blackjack Smash with Jack Daniel’s whiskey, lemon juice, sugar, blackberries and mint
~Jackalope with Jack Daniel’s whiskey, pineapple, coconut and Ancho Reyes ancho chile liqueur
~Elda Fitzgerald with Jack Daniel’s whiskey, St. Germaine elderflower liqueur, orange, lemon, sugar and egg white

Now Boarding
7746 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046

Poshmark app

Do you have a long list of people you need to buy Christmas gifts for but are short on cash? Or maybe you want to get your friends and family something different this year. Or maybe you just love good holiday shopping deals (I fall in to all three of these categories!).

Then consider some of these handy websites that will help you save money and find interesting gifts.

If you’re mainly looking to save some dough, then Slickdeals and Fatwallet are two good places to start. These sites aggregate discounts and sales from all over the Internet and even feature forums where you can discuss said deals with fellow shoppers.

If you’re looking for a good deal (sometimes a very good deal) on local (most of these sites offer deals in several cities) events, dining, services and stores, then LivingSocial, Groupon, Lifebooker, Goldstar and Gilt City are great bets. Goldstar specializes in events and entertainment, such as deeply discounted tickets to concerts and musicals. But the others include discounted prices on everything from flying trapeze lessons and clay pigeon shooting to yoga classes and jewelry. There are even travel deals, with discounted hotel stays!

If you’re looking for a less expensive way to buy stuff, then shopping via the Poshmark app might just be for you. It’s basically a place to resell and buy items from individuals, but that often means getting a great deal (you can negotiate!) on gently used or never-used (look for the NWT “new with tags” or NWOT “new without tags” designations) goods. The app is meant for the buying and selling of clothing and accessories, but you’ll find other things such as cosmetics, home goods and electronics on there, too. There are even sellers trying to offload authentic luxury items — think Chanel sunglasses or Louis Vuitton handbags. I’ve had some success selling on the app and have purchased some nice pieces, including a practically new Cynthia Rowley jacket for $25.

If the idea of purchasing something from someone you’ve never met freaks you out a little, there are always the limited-time flash sale sites Gilt, Ideeli, OpenSky, Zulily, Hautelook and Rue La La. Many of these sites offer high-end clothing, accessories, shoes, and even home and food items, at a discount but only for a limited time. Zulily is specifically geared toward mothers, mothers-to-be and families, and OpenSky sells all kinds of things via curated “shops,” with recommendations from big names, such as chefs Tom Colicchio and José Andrés, tennis star Serena Williams, and actress Jennie Garth.

Do you have more recommendations for frugal shopping? Share your thoughts; I’d love to hear them!