When he has to look a bit nicer, he wears dress clothes left by his father, who died a couple of years ago. "And they actually fit me."

Roth's cheap week starts with the Sunday paper. He clips coupons, then browses the ads for sales. On Wednesday, he scans the grocery ads. For grocery shopping, he recommends combining coupons with sales. "You just don't want to go buy stuff because you have a coupon," Roth says. "But if they have something on sale and you have a coupon that makes it a good deal, then you can buy it."

As of December 1, his grocery bill for 2007 was $1,588 for one person and a dog.

He admits that his tactics aren't always popular at some stores. Once, when the Thriftway at 40th Street and Main had a sale on peanut butter, Roth tried to use a coupon. The store refused to take the coupon, he says. So he wrote to the Star to complain. The store manager eventually sent him two jars of peanut butter — along with a letter asking Roth not to come back.

Roth also peruses the classifieds for estate and garage sales. He gets the best deals when the sale is put on by the family or a private owner. He purchased most of his living-room furniture secondhand; for his latest find — a 1951 vintage yellow chair and ottoman — he paid $50 at an estate sale.

Roth's lifestyle doesn't appear miserly. He has credit cards and uses them frequently, but he pays off the balance every month and uses them to collect frequent-flier miles. He has earned free trips, traveling to Australia twice and Europe several times.

He owns two cars, both 1989 Oldsmobile 88s. He bought one cheap from a friend who was moving to Boston. He inherited the other one when his father passed away.

But Roth doesn't drive much. Last year, as of December 1, he'd spent just $399.02 on gas.

When he does drive, Roth maps out a circular route. He never drives to just one place. But he lives within walking distance of CVS, Walgreens and Aldi.

"He likes to rape and pillage stores," says Dan Mugg, Roth's partner of three and a half years. Mugg once watched Roth walk into CVS with rebates, CVS bucks and coupons, and use them to buy $20 worth of stuff for 60 cents.

"I was just in awe," says Mugg, who affectionately refers to Roth as "a cheap bastard."

"CVS has had some deals lately where you can actually get paid to take stuff if you work it right," Roth says.

The chain pharmacy ended up paying him $2.25 to take three tubes of Colgate toothpaste, after he combined coupons with the sale price; CVS also paid him $1 to take Schick Quatro razors that were on sale, and Roth had coupons.

"A lot of people will say that's too much trouble, and it could well be," Roth admits. "But for me, it's kind of fun. I've kind of turned it into a hobby."

Roth's friends say it's more like an obsession.

"The first time you go to his home, it's like a shock," says Jim Miller, who met Roth at the Writers Place in 2001. "You don't know many people who have 30 jars of peanut butter. Or 18 to 20 pounds of coffee."

Miller isn't exaggerating. The coffee is neatly stacked on a ledge in the kitchen. A shelf in Roth's basement holds his stash of dog food and cans of diced tomatoes and the 30 jars of peanut butter. Roth says stocking up is essential to living cheap.

Though Roth is cheap with himself, Miller says, he isn't stingy with others. He tips 15 percent when he goes out to eat at self-serve buffets and 20 percent at more upscale restaurants. Sometimes, he'll treat his friends to dinner — though he's prone to picking up the tab when it's buy one, get one free.

Roth says those wanting to live as he does need not worry what others think. If a store employee screws up, he suggests writing letters to give the company a chance to correct the mistake. "Sometimes, they'll send something free," Roth says. The objective isn't to get something free, he explains, but to encourage good service.

Roth also does a lot of curb shopping.

"I don't go out looking for stuff," he says. But he walks his dog and his neighbor's dog three miles a day and, he says, "It's amazing what you can find."

Sitting on his kitchen counter is a massive black microwave.

"It had a sign on it, 'Never used,' which actually overstated the case. But it does work."

Roth says he's fortunate to be as cheap as he wants to be. "There is a difference between me and someone who really is driven down and actually has to do this stuff. I recognize that."

But for sharing what he's learned with others, the guy deserves some credit.

THE HAND-TO-MOUTH POSTURE

By CAROLYN SZCZEPANSKI

For anyone stressing over maxed-out credit cards and drained checking accounts, yoga is a great way to improve physical and emotional balance. (Shrinks have been known to prescribe it to treat anxiety and depression.) But now that the practice has turned trendy, it can be a pricey indulgence. Just one group class of breathing and stretching typically costs about $15, and a monthly pass at any yoga studio runs into the triple digits. However, we've discovered plenty of local yoga havens that offer incentives to get skeptics and misers to give the mat science a try. If you're willing to dabble in different styles and studios, this list will help you strike a pose with little money down.

ARC Yoga

700 Northwest Argosy Parkway, Riverside, 816-587-9642, arcyoga.com

The first class is free.

Boulevard Yoga

215 Southwest Boulevard,

816-889-9642, boulevardyoga.com

The first class is free; two weeks of unlimited classes cost $25.

Gardens of Delight Yoga and Wellness

164 South Main, No. 413, Parkville,

816-308-5450

The first class is free.

KC Fitness Link

3909 Main, Kansas City, Missouri,

816-256-4443, kcfitnesslink.com.

One free week of unlimited classes. KC Fitness Link also offers free yoga, breathing and meditation classes to people with high blood pressure or cardiovascular conditions who can provide proof of their conditions. Also, free classes at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on January 26 (Yoga Day USA).

New Day Yoga

15238 Broadmoor, Overland Park,

913-897-9642, newdayyogastudio.com

One free week of unlimited classes.

The Yoga Studio of Johnson County

7785 Quivira, Lenexa, 913-492-9598, ttheyogastudio.com

A free class every Sunday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Yoga Gallery

5615 Johnson Drive, Mission,

913-432-5568, yogallery.com

A free class at 3 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month; a free yoga breath class every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. New students can purchase a three-class package for $22.

Darling Yoga

11711 College Boulevard, Overland Park, 913-498-1144, darlingyoga.com

Two weeks of unlimited classes for $20.

Kansas City Bikram Yoga

910 West 39th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 816-931-9642,

kansascitybikramyoga.com

One month of unlimited classes for $29.

Kansas Siddhi Yoga

1717 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Missouri; 1120 Main, Blue Springs;

866-222-9555, moyoga.com

During January, 20 percent off all multiclass cards.

Maya Yoga

215 West 18th Street, Suite 250, Kansas City, Missouri, 816-679-1053, mayayoga.com

Two weeks of unlimited classes for $25.

Inspire Yoga

4515 West 90th Street, Prairie Village, 913-385-9033, inspireyoga.com

One week of unlimited classes for $15.

BEAUTY BARGAINS

By JEN CHEN

Forget the Flowbee — cheap personal grooming doesn't have to involve self-operated suck-and-cut devices. I confirmed this on a tour of salon-training schools, where student work equals low prices.

Knowing that cosmetology trainees are supervised by instructors, I set out on a quest to beautify myself for less.

First, I headed to the Cutting Edge Hairstyling Academy for an $8 manicure and an $18 pedicure. Located at 75th Street and Quivira (913-962-0076) in Shawnee, the salon had tan walls and cherry-wood-colored stations. Soft rock played over the loudspeakers. Cutting Edge doesn't accept reservations, but the wait was only about 25 minutes on a Saturday afternoon. The manicure was very basic — no heated hand pads or UV light boxes here — but included a quick soak in a bowl of warm, soapy water as well as a hand-and-forearm massage. The salon offers only 26 nail colors, though, ranging from a prison-jumpsuit orange to a watery pale blue. Some colors were too thick; the student tried to thin out the purple I wanted with some acetone before declaring it unusable. She recommended that clients bring their own nail polish. I ended up with dark-red fingernails that had a metallic gleam — a color that would look mighty fine on a Cadillac DeVille. My pedicure, meanwhile, was half-off because the spa chair wasn't working properly. The entire proc­ess took about two and a half hours.

I was a little more leery about getting my hair cut. For that, I made an appointment at the Independence College of Cosmetology (815 West 23rd Street, 816-252-4247), which charges $5.50 for a shampoo and cut. The school's salon was utilitarian; rows of mirrored stations were arranged under harsh fluorescent lights. When I arrived on a Thursday morning, elderly women with tightly curled hair were packed into the waiting room. The students looked a bit more hip; a few had red or pink streaks in their hair. My stylist had dyed black hair with blond and blue streaks. Following my directions, she carefully cut off about an inch and left me with jagged layers. Her supervisor then came over to help her with my bangs and to even things up a bit. From the side, my hair now resembled a comma.

Finally, I went for a massage. Getting an appointment over winter break was a bit tricky. The High-Tech Institute, near Ward Parkway Shopping Center at 9001 State Line Road (866-296-2110), was booked until late April. The $24 massages at Heritage College (1200 East 104th Street, Suite 300, 816-942-5474) sounded appealing, but my appointment was canceled due to bad weather, and I couldn't get into the Massage Therapy Training Institute (9140 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, 816-361-7733) until after my deadline.

I ended up at Pinnacle Career Institute (816-268-3401). Located near Interstate 435 and Holmes in one of those anonymous office parks lining the highway, the drab building turned out to have a relaxing massage room inside. The lights were dim, and new-agey pan-flute music played in the background. My masseuse was a graduate of the school who was helping out over the holidays, and she rocked. The hourlong session was a combination of Swedish and deep-tissue work; she smoothed out knots I didn't know I had and pulled and stretched limbs. She solicitously asked about a suspicious-looking mole on my arm and reminded me to drink a lot of water after the session. Even better than the fantastic massage was the price — $25 plus tip.

That brought the pretax grand total for my tour of salon schools to $60.50. Which left a lot for other necessities — such as nail-polish shades other than neon orange or pearlescent blue.

DON'T SPEND BEER MONEY ON PARKING!

By DAVID MARTIN

Worries about parking for events at the Sprint Center are hugely overblown. For years, football fans have paid more — and walked farther — to park outside Arrowhead Stadium.

City officials have identified 10,000 parking spaces within three or four blocks of Sprint Center. Garages and lots close to the building charge $10. But with a little thought and footwork, concert fans and sports lovers should be able to avoid parting with a sawbuck until they stand in an arena beer line.

City streets are the best option. Most downtown thoroughfares allow street parking, which is usually free after 6 p.m. For the best spots, look for roads where stopping is not allowed during the evening rush. Main Street south of Truman Road, for instance, was wide open at 6:15 on a recent concert night. The arena is but a 10-minute walk from there.

If it's a weeknight and drinks and dinner are part of the plan, 10-hour meters are good sources of cheap parking before 6 p.m. Ten-hour meters line Charlotte and Holmes, among other streets. Walnut south of Truman is another choice spot for people arriving early for evening events.

Those who don't trust their own parallel-parking skills can stick $5 in an honor box in a lot at 11th Street and Wyandotte just east of the Lyric, about six blocks from the Sprint Center. The new City Center Square garage, five blocks away at 11th Street and Baltimore, charges $6 on weekends. The garage that envelops Quality Hill Playhouse, about seven blocks away at 303 West 10th Street, costs only $3. That price is supposedly reserved for people attending events in the theater district; a small fib might be all that arenagoers need to qualify for the rate.

BUZZ ON A BUDGET

By LORNA PERRY

God love the happy hour, for it was designed with one goal in mind: To get happy on the cheap, via consumption of inexpensive alcoholic beverages. Here are some of the deals that make us the — hic — happiest.

Willie's

Monday Microbrew Night at Willie's brings sweet deliverance from watery domestic beer. Fresh pints of Boulevard, Fat Tire, Flying Monkey or Blue Moon cost $2.50 a draw from 8 p.m. until kicking-out time. 1501 Grand, 816-527-0122.

Lew's Grill and Bar

During Tuesday Bewsday at Lew's, from open to close, every beer in the house — bottle or draft, domestic or import — is $2.75. And the pickings aren't slim; Lew's carries a wide selection of domestic and import beers. 7539 Wornall, 816-561-2492.

The Red Balloon

The state of Kansas doesn't believe in happy hours, but you can guzzle to your heart's content seven days a week at the karaoke palace known as the Red Balloon. All day, every day, the Balloon offers hefty 32-ounce "schooners" of Busch or Miller Lite for a wallet-friendly $4.50. If that's 50 cents too much, come in on Tuesdays, when those same schooners cost $4 apiece. 10325 West 75th Street in Overland Park, 913-962-2330.

Charlie Hooper's

Hooper's brings hump day to a close with Wednesday Import Night, when almost every import bottle in the house costs a measly two bucks (OK, the larger bottles might be three). And Hooper's stocks an impressive 140 imports, so it'll take a lot of happy hours to cover that territory. The happy hour starts at 5 p.m. and runs until close. 12 West 63rd Street, 816-361-8841

Denim and Diamonds

Hands down, the Northland's Denim and Diamonds gets the cheap-libations prize. Wednesday night there is Ladies' Night —that means the gals pay a $2 cover at the door and then get to drink 10-ounce cups of well drinks, beer or wine for 25 cents apiece all night. That's two and a half cents a sip, people. 1725 Swift, 816-221-7330.

J.R.'s Place

If the idea of drinking from a giant schooner appeals to you but the prices at the Red Balloon are still outside your price range, J.R.'s in Olathe offers 34-ounce domestic draws for $3 every Thursday. All. Day. Long. 20238 West 151st Street in Olathe, 913-254-1307.

La Bodega

From 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, La Bodega throws one of the premium happy hours in the city: the half-off happy hour. Tapas, wine, premium well drinks, cerveza and sangria are all half-off. This includes refreshing pitchers — not just glasses — of red or white sangria. Word to the wise: La Bodega's happy hour is popular, so reservations are highly recommended. 703 Southwest Boulevard, 816-472-8272.

The Velvet Dog

From 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, the Dawg offers a high-quali­ty cosmo or appletini for $3. (Really, it's just as well that there are only two martini options — the ones that taste as innocuous as melted ice cream go down a little too well.) Margaritas and glasses of house wine are also three bucks, and domestic beers and well drinks are $2. All appetizers are half-off, too. 400 East 31st Street, 816-753-9990

The Record Bar

What's most impressive about the Record Bar's happy hour, from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, is that Stolichnaya well drinks cost $3. All Stoli flavors are included, so bring on the suicide blueberry-raspberry-cranberry-vanilla cocktail. 1020 Westport Road, 816-753-5207.

Dave's Stagecoach Inn

A true and total dive, Dave's sells alcohol at dive prices available throughout the week (save Sunday, when the place is closed). Drafts of Budweiser ring in at $1.50 a draw, wells cost $3, Boulevard draws are $2.50 and ice-cold cans of Schlitz, Old Style and Hamms are $2. 316 Westport Road, 816-561-2492

Tower Tavern

After church on Sunday, the Tower Tavern satisfies that need for a post-service drink (or for penance in the bottom of a 12-ounce can) during Scumbag Sundays. Cans of Old Style are in abundance and cost a piddly $1.50 all the sacred day long. 401 East 31st Street, 816-931-9300.