Another money-saving idea for Mammoth Lakes: package deals that include free lift tickets for each hotel guest. These deals, offered by the resort (www.mammothmountain.com), can cut your lodging costs by at least half, if you meet the restrictions. For example, Mammoth Mountain is offering a January midweek package that starts at $119 a night, with a two-night minimum.

Least expensive: Ryan Groat of Huntington Beach and his 4-year-old son, Luka, found the least expensive lodging in town: They slept in a camper on the back of Groat's pickup, parked on the outskirts of town near a hot spring called Wild Willy's, which is on Bureau of Land Management property. The federal government allows free camping on BLM property for as long as 14 days. In return, campers must promise not to litter or damage vegetation. Besides camping on BLM land, Groat said he saved big bucks by shopping at a supermarket and preparing meals on a portable gas grill.

''It gets a little chilly at night in the camper, but it saves a lot of money, and nowadays that's important,'' he said.

FOOD

Although there's no such thing as a free lunch, you can find some inexpensive eats in Mammoth Lakes.

As I pulled into town, I stopped at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center (2510 Main St.) and picked up a coupon book for local restaurants and shops. (Before my trip, I also printed out several coupons from the city's tourism department's Web site, www.visitmammoth.com/coupons.)

Less expensive: Our first night in town, we used a 20 percent off coupon for a large pizza at John's Pizza Works (3499 Main St.). The food was decent and the atmosphere festive, with TV football games and arcade machines seemingly on all sides. The coupon book also includes discounts for coffee shops, sandwich joints and a Thai restaurant. And who can say no to a dollar-off coupon for a Ben & Jerry's hot fudge sundae?

Even less expensive: Local merchants can also be a treasure-trove of money-saving tips. A fishing gear store manager recommended a couple of his favorite eateries: Salsa's (588 Old Mammoth Road), where tacos cost $1.75 each, and Hot Chicks Rotisserie (452 Old Mammoth Road), where a family of three can feast on a whole chicken with two side dishes for $18.95.

A ski shop owner suggested I scan the ads in the local newspapers for deals. With that, he opened the free weekly paper, the Sheet, and pointed out an ad for Whiskey Creek restaurant, where entrees top out around $27. But during a promotional period, the restaurant had entrees for $9.95. That night at Whiskey Creek, the family and I enjoyed a tasty down-home meal of meatloaf, salad and chicken strips in a relaxing upscale setting (cloth napkins and real silverware, not plastic forks and paper plates.) Total tab: just under $50 for three people.

Rock bottom: The supermarkets in town also get lots of skier and snowboarding business, judging by the number of people I saw in the resort parking lot munching on sandwiches and chips.

EQUIPMENT

Skiers and snowboarders have several options for saving when renting skis or snowboarding equipment.

The rental shop at the resort offers a standard ski rental package for $34 a day. But I found a coupon at the welcome center for 20 percent off a rental package at the Ski Renter, a small shop at California Highway 203 and Old Mammoth Road. With the coupon, I paid $20 a day for skis, boots and poles for me and $12 for the same package for Isabella.

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