There’s no denying that, economically, times are tough. This is especially true for students, whose budgets seldom allow for such frivolities as movie tickets or trips to the opera. Fortunately, Fresno is home to several inexpensive entertainment options.

Tickets at this theater only cost $3 all of the time.  Seriously. There is a bit of a catch, though. Movies don’t usually arrive at the “cheap theater” until a few weeks after their release. Many times, movies stay there even after they’re released on DVD, which is great, because this means you could see the movie at the theater for what it would cost to rent it on DVD. And for what it’s worth, their popcorn is second to none.

Indoor kin to yard sales, estate sales happen on weekend mornings and are often treasure troves of vintage goodies. These sales take place inside the homes of people who are looking to sell nearly everything. These people are often dead.

Home interiors are kept relatively intact, allowing the shopper an interesting peek into the life of a stranger. Books, clothes, vinyl albums, jewelry, dishes, and knick-knacks galore are usual estate sale fare. These are offered at very reasonable prices, and what’s more, items are usually half-price on Sundays.

Ads for sales can be found in the Fresno Bee’s classified section or at http://fresno.craigslist.org/under the “Garage Sale” section. So make a list of promising sales, arm yourself with Googled directions, grab some coffee (or tea, or whatever morning beverage you prefer) and hunt for those bargains!

Fresno’s resident museum dedicated to all things Latin offers free admission on the first Thursday of every month. Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., people can browse any of the museum’s exhibits. Current exhibits showcase Mexican folk art and the celebration of Dia de los Muertos. Visitors can also view an extensive collection of handcrafted items in the “Tiendita” gift shop. For more information, visit arteamericas.org.

History buffs rejoice! The Clovis Historical museum is free to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum exhibits a variety of memorabilia related to the history of Clovis and the Central Valley. Features include relics of Pioneers and Native Americans, a special “Veteran’s Room” honoring local veteran of World Wars I and II and much more. For more information, visit clovis-museum.com.

The Philharmonic offers up a variety of performances to suit many musical tastes. No matter what your taste is, you must know that these performances can be seen for free. How, you ask? By volunteering as an usher.

Anyone can volunteer to be an usher. It is a fairly simple job that involves taking tickets, handing out programs, and escorting folks to their seats.  As a reward for your outstanding ushering, you get to take a seat during the performance in any available seat and enjoy the music. And guess what else? You can volunteer for as many shows as you want. For the complete 2011-2012 performance season, as well as a volunteer application, visit fresnophil.org/volunteer.html.

The arts community is apparently in dire need of ushers. Why else would they offer the chance to see amazing shows for free and only asking a couple hours of your time in return? The Fresno Grand Opera also has a volunteer program, though it’s slightly different from the Philharmonic’s.

Simply contact the Fresno Grand Opera office via telephone at (559) 442-5699. Tell them what show you’d like to volunteer for, and they will get back to you with information on which performance you will work. Then, you get to enjoy the Opera’s dress rehearsal as an audience member.

The dress rehearsal is a complete practice run of the performance. It runs exactly as any performance would, as it is the final opportunity to practice before performing in front of a paying audience. I have seen several dress rehearsals, and I can say that they are just as superb as the performance you would pay big bucks to see.

Specific information, along with a performance schedule for the 2011-2012 season, can be found at fresnograndopera.org/ushers.html

The student theatre company housed at CSU Fresno produces unique, quality shows that cost little to see. Students with valid identification can purchase tickets for only $10. Considering this season’s excellent line-up, which includes the new social media satire/thriller “T.I.C – Trenchcoat In Common,” Ntozake Shange’s play-turned-Tyler Perry film “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf,” and Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” And this is just the first half of the season. A complete line-up and purchasing information can be found by visiting csufresno.edu/theatrearts/performances.

This series of piano performances brings world-renowned pianists to Fresno State’s Concert Hall. Students can experience these stellar performances for only $5, with a  valid identification. To purchase the $5 individual tickets you can visit the Fresno State Music Department box office, which is adjacent to the concert hall, between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

You can also arrive at least one hour before a performance is scheduled to begin and purchase tickets then. For a detailed list of performances and ticket purchasing information, head to keyboardconcerts.com.

The library isn’t just for book lovers. It’s also for music lovers and film lovers. Yes, the San Joaquin Valley Library System owns a plethora of CDs and DVDs, all yours for the borrowing. Don’t have a library card? No problem – valid photo identification will get you one. Library card in hand, you can use the system’s online catalog to search for whatever your heart desires.

To access the catalog, visit sjvls.org and follow the link for Fresno County Library, then select the “Catalog” link. When you find something you’d like to check out, you can request that it be sent from wherever it is to your local branch.

A word of caution: make sure you know your four-digit PIN number. You must enter it, along with the barcode number on your card to request anything. If you don’t know it, ask a librarian to look it up for you.

Speaking from experience, you will find almost everything from classic blues and Italian neo-realism to gypsy punk rock and modern indie flicks. And the best part? It’s all completely free!