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Your 401(k) may be in the toilet, your job on the line and your wallet thinning.

In these hard times, though, you can still pour yourself a glass of nice wine, nibble on imported cheeses and get good seats at the theater -- without spending a lot of money.

Greensboro has much to offer at low or no cost if you know where to look. All it takes is some creative thinking and planning.

We in the newspaper industry certainly haven't been immune to the belt-tightening. I moved to Greensboro last February to take a job as a features reporter at the News & Record. I had previously worked for two years at a newspaper in Beaumont, Texas.

My job here has treated me well, my paycheck having grown a little fatter when I made the move. But my wife, Lana, and I still took a financial hit, mainly because I'm the only breadwinner in the house -- well, apartment, as we're still trying to save for a down payment and waiting for the housing market to bottom out.

Lana joined me in Greensboro in March and has been looking for a job since. She's tried applying at schools, government offices, call centers, stores, restaurants and staffing agencies, the last of which I wouldn't recommend for anyone unless they enjoy jumping through hoops for a chance at a mediocre-paying job. She's received a few callbacks, but thus far no wages.

So we've taken to clipping coupons and cutting a number of things out of our budget, including a trip we had planned on making to Savannah, Ga., in September to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. Our one extravagance this year was a visit to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville in May for Lana's birthday. And even then we just made it a day trip, so we wouldn't have to shell out for a hotel.

So we haven't really gotten out much the past year. But that began changing in November when I hit First Friday in downtown Greensboro. About a dozen art galleries, studios and antique shops along Elm Street keep their doors open late during the event (which takes place on the first Friday evening of the month). Go hungry. Not only did we get to see a lot of great work by local artists, but we also loaded up on free wine, cheese, cold cuts, and even a slice or two of chocolate pecan pie -- all without spending a dime. Of course, if you have the money, I would also encourage you to support your local arts scene by buying a piece here and there.

Last month I decided to try living richly for a day. The catch? I would have to do it for about 50 bucks. So Lana and I set out on a Saturday to explore the good life in Greensboro -- museums, wine, shopping, even a nice dinner, all with the two twenties and the ten I had in my pocket.

Jazzed up

Our first stop was at Tate Street Coffee House. The main attraction for me this day was the live jazz by the Ben Jensen Organ Trio, who perform there every Saturday.

I ordered a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and Lana a hot cider with cherry syrup, neither of us being big coffee drinkers. It came out to $5.44, or $6 even with tip.

My previous job in Texas covering the music beat allowed me to see a number of acts including B.B. King, Los Lonely Boys and Vanilla Ice, but I haven't been to any concerts thus far in Greensboro, so this was actually my first live North Carolina music experience. The trio consists of Ben Jensen on organ, Devin Fuller on drums and Andrew Shillito on guitar. Nearby customers were working on their laptops, reading schoolbooks and engaged in conversation. During breaks a couple of people went up and talked to the band.

"It's a good way of getting people into jazz," Fuller said of playing at the coffeehouse. "To show them it's not all like Kenny G."

This (really) old house

From Tate Street we went on to Blandwood Mansion to see how the other half once lived.

I'm something of a history buff and had been meaning to visit the house since I moved to the area. Built as a two-story farmhouse in 1795, the place was purchased by John Motley Morehead in 1827. In 1844, Morehead, then governor, commissioned an architect to create an addition as well as the Italianate look that remains today.

Though not quite as extravagant as the homes of East Texas oil, cattle and lumber barons, the place, adorned with French chandeliers, American empire furniture, and mahogany-veneered card tables, is certainly elegant. And for $10, we got to live vicariously through the 19th-century elite.

Wer Wulf and cave graffiti

About a half hour after leaving the rarefied confines of Blandwood, I found myself staring into the of eyes of Wer Wulf. The creature, made out of what appeared to be shredded up archival cardboard covered in glue, had its teeth bared, its eyes squinted and its humanoid ears perked up.

I was standing in the middle of the Art on Paper exhibit at the Weatherspoon Art Museum on the campus of UNCG. It was our first visit. Willem De Kooning's "Woman," the museum's prized possession, wasn't on display when we went, but we still found much to admire from Eve Aschheim's drawings on mylar to Jeff Whetstone's pictures of cave graffiti. And it didn't cost us a thing.

Wer Wulf, actually a large lupine head created by artist Scott Fife, is probably the most striking piece in the Art on Paper exhibit. But my favorite was probably Crush, which consisted of pieces of shredded up love letters rolled up tightly like cigarette segments and arrayed in a big circle on the floor. The artist was Nava Lubelski.

"I hope she found closure," I told Lana.

Wining and snacking

By the time we got to Grove Winery on Brooks Bridge Road in northeast Guilford County about 3 p.m., we were getting hungry. Fortunately they had a spread of Calico Farmstead cheeses, candied nuts and Giacomo's salami for us to satiate our appetite.

And, of course, plenty of wine to wash it all down.

And since it was an open house weekend at the winery, it was another freebie. Tours typically cost $4 per person and include a free glass and six free wine samples.

Founded in 2004, the winery has a 44-acre vineyard and produces about 3,000 cases of wine each year. The place has a loyal clientele who go on the tours every weekend, and bring their grills during free concerts in the summer.

"People will come out here and cook five-course dinners," owner Max Lloyd said. "They'll have little picnics. It's like tailgating."

Of course, they're washing down their burgers and brats with wine instead of beer.

Junk junkie

Leaving Grove Winery, I still had $34 in my pocket. The next place was going to be tough, though, mainly because my wife likes to shop.

We pulled into Carolina Thrift about 5 p.m. I'm something of a junk junkie myself, as my extensive collection of vinyl records, vintage airline and car ads and beer glasses will attest to.

"Look, a turntable with an 8-track tape player."

"A Magritte wall hanging."

"A wood-paneled TV."

I found what appeared to be a vintage bowling shirt, like something Cosmo Kramer might have worn during the heyday of "Seinfeld," for only $3. However it was only a medium and I had to put it back on the rack.

Lana was trying to decide between some boots and a Jaclyn Smith bag. She needed a new purse, so she went with the bag, which cost $10. With tax, my total at Carolina Thrift came to $10.64.

Ho, ho, ho

It was a cold night for the high life, but Lana and I, both native Hoosiers, can stand a little cold. It was the rain that had us worried. But fortunately it was only a sprinkle, and it quickly subsided as we set forth to see the luminaria display at the Greensboro Arboretum. It's one of a number of free events, including the Summer Solstice Celebration and Art at the Arboretum, that take place at Lindley Park every year.

I walked over to the gazebo and took a seat in a plush chair.

"I think that's supposed to be Santa's chair," Lana said.

Oops. Luckily the kids hadn't started lining up to see Kris Kingle yet.

I moved over to a wooden bench where Lana was sitting and cuddled up next to her. Even though we're Northerners, we've lived in the South long enough that our internal thermometers have become a lot more sensitive. Lana spotted a vending booth and said she wanted a hot chocolate.

The drink was $1. Walking along the candlelit paths holding Lana's hand? Priceless.

Fine dining, not a lot of cash

We finished up our day with dinner at Liberty Oak. I wanted to go some place that had a fine-dining ambience and where I could order more than a salad without breaking the bank.

Liberty Oak was the first restaurant I ever ate at in Greensboro. I was supposed have lunch there with my editor when I came to town last year to interview for the job. But my flight encountered some nasty weather along the way, and was diverted first to Nashville then to Memphis. It was dark by the time I got into town and my editor said it would probably be a good idea to forgo the first day of interviewing, so I had dinner by myself -- turkey and cheddar served on a croissant with pepper jelly, $8.95.

I had the same thing when I went there with Lana. Though the menu had some good deals, this was another place that worried me, mainly because Lana wanted to get dessert. Do I break my budget and treat ourselves to a creme brulee? Or do I act like a penny-pinching bad guy?

I chose to be the bad guy.

"The point is to stay within 50 bucks," I told her. "Besides we have plenty of ice cream at home."

She pouted at first, but remained a good sport throughout the rest of dinner. She ordered a Saint Pita -- artichokes, tomato, zucchini, black olives, feta and cream cheese on pita bread -- for $8.95, and a Coke. I had a water. Both our orders came with a side salad.

Dinner was $24 with tip. I broke my budget by $1.64. I briefly considered giving a lesser tip, but I didn't want to come off as a cheapskate, so I borrowed $2 from Lana.

Bethlehem on a budget

The next day, Triad Stage was having their "Pay What You Can" night. I figured as long as I had gone over budget, I might as well take in a play.

The Pay What You Can nights usually take place the Sunday and Tuesday after a show opens, and as the name suggests, you can pretty much pay what you want. When I got to the ticket window, I was asked how much I cared to donate for the tickets. I gave $1.50 each. I felt like I should have given more, but the woman in the booth was friendly as could be.

The show was "Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity," a Biblical story told with Appalachian archetypes and bluegrass music, and featuring a ballcap-wearing Noah, plaid shirt-wearing "sheep-stealers" and a red-suit-and-tie-wearing devil. With seats only four rows from the stage, we also got a great view of the action.

On the way home from the play, I thought about stopping at Food Lion and buying a can of Miller High Life, so I could say I literally drank the high life on this weekend of living extravagantly. But I was already $4.64 over budget and didn't want to push it. Payday was another two weeks away, after all.

Contact Robert C. Lopez at 691-5091 or robert.lopez@news-record.com

GOOD TIMES, GREAT DEALS

You don't need to bust your wallet to live richly. You just need to know how to get the right deals.

Architectural Salvage of Greensboro, 300 Bellemeade St., Greensboro, 389-9118

Need a porcelain clawfoot tub, a chandelier or some columns to restore your old Southern manor? ASG offers plenty of antique fixtures for those not wanting to spend a lot of money on their renovations. And if you volunteer, every hour you put in will you earn $5 credit toward any purchase you make.

Blandwood Mansion, 447 W. Washington St., Greensboro, 272-5003

You can check out how the other half lived at the two-century-old estate, which is expanding its hours, beginning this month. Tours will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger.

Carolina Thrift, 3608 W. Wendover Ave., Greensboro, 315-1235

Vintage shirts under $5. Purses and shoes for under $10. Coffee tables under $20. You might even be able to spot an old rotary phone.

Elsewhere Artist Collaborative, 606-608 S. Elm St., Greensboro, 549-5555

A living museum made up of the contents from a curio shop once owned by Sylvia Gray -- Fisher-Price toys, vinyl records, old luggage. The museum is closed until mid-March, but is generally open from 1 to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. A donation of $3 for adults, $2 for students and $1 for children 12 and younger is suggested.

First Fridays, Elm Street, Downtown Greensboro

Art galleries, studios and antique shops keep their doors open until 9 p.m. on the first Friday of the month. Art lovers can peruse work by local artists, sip some wine and have some cheese, cold cuts and other treats and not pay a nickel. Many can also be visited during the week.

Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art, 200 N. Davie St., Greensboro, 333-7460

Located in the Greensboro Cultural Center, the museum each year has five rotating exhibits in its main gallery. "If You Can Kill a Snake With It, It Ain't Art!," an exhibition of publisher Jonathan Williams' art collection, goes on display Jan. 23. It will feature works by Ansel Adams, David Hockney and Howard Finster, among others. Admission is free, though a $5 donation is suggested.

Greensboro Historical Museum, 130 Summit Ave., Greensboro, 373-2043

Learn about the Revolution, the Civil War and the Greensboro Four. The 17,000-square-foot museum contains exhibits about O. Henry, Confederate weaponry and many other chapters in the history of the Gate City. Admission is free.

Grove Winery, 7360 Brooks Bridge Road, Gibsonville, 584-4060

The winery in northeast Guilford County typically charges $4 for tours, which include a free glass and six free wine samples. It also occasionally hosts free open houses and concerts. Check the Web site www.grovewinery.com for event announcements.

GTCC Cosmetology Program, Service Careers Building, Second Floor, GTCC campus, Jamestown, 334-4822, Ext. 2655

Cosmetology students need to put in 1,500 hours of training, and of course some of that training has to be done on live models. Rest assured though, they have to practice at least 300 hours on a mannequin before they can touch your hair. Services range in price from $1 for a deep color rinse to $50 for a soft curl or spiral perm. The school is closed for the semester but will reopen Jan. 15. Walk-ins are welcome.

GTCC Culinary Technology Department, Koury Hospitality Career Center, GTCC campus, Jamestown, 334-4822, Ext. 2462

Have some French pâté, veal marsala or duck prepared by GTCC students. Lunch is $7 and dinner $9. The dining hall is scheduled to reopen in the spring, once new classes get started. Call for reservations.

GTCC Massage Therapy Department, 901 S. Main St., High Point, 454-1126, Ext. 3042

Are the hard times stressing you out?

Students are required to do 30 massages before getting officially licensed, and each semester the school offers free clinics to the public (a $20 donation is suggested, though not required). The next clinic will be in April. They tend to fill up quick though, so make an appointment early.

Leon's Beauty School, 1305 Coliseum Blvd., Greensboro, 274-4601

$10 haircuts, $9 manicures and $30 coloring. The school offers a number of services performed by its students at a fraction of what a salon might charge. Walk-ins are welcome.

Tate Street Coffee House, 334 Tate St., Greensboro, 275-2754

Local jazz group The Ben Jensen Trio plays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday. The coffeehouse also hosts a jam session at 8 p.m. Thursdays. Both are free.

Triad Stage, 223 S. Elm St., Greensboro, 272-0160

The downtown theater has its Pay What You Can nights on the Sunday and Tuesday after a show opens. Its next Pay What You Can nights will be Feb. 1 and 3 for "Black Pearl Sings!" If you don't mind sitting in a tall chair, the theater also sells $10 gallery seat tickets for all its performances. Prices for other seats typically run from $16 to $42.

Weatherspoon Art Museum, Spring Garden and Tate streets on the campus of UNCG, 334-5770

As the museum's slogan says, this place has free admission, free parking and free thinking. The Art on Paper exhibit will be on display through Jan. 25 and Jeff Whetstone's Post-Pleistocene collection of cave graffiti photos through Feb. 22. Scheduled to open on Jan. 11 will be an exhibit of prints by Jules Olitski. The museum is also hosting a Sustainable Film series on environmental issues this school year. The next movie "Waste = Food," about sustainable production methods, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 29. All screenings are free.

Williams-Sonoma, 3320 W. Friendly Ave., in the Friendly Center, 294-2063

Though the store's wares may be expensive, gourmands on a budget can still sample its products free during technique classes where you can learn how to make a variety of dishes, such as pizza and beef bourguignon. The classes take place several times a month. Check the Web site, www.williams-sonoma.com for details.

Yoga, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3906 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro, 301-4932 (ask for Anne)

Get your mind off of the economic turmoil and get your body into shape. The first class is free, and each one after that is $5. Beginners can come at 9:15 a.m. or 6 p.m. Tuesdays. Advanced classes are at 9 a.m. Saturdays.