Mardi Gras is right around the corner (March 8th), which means you’ve only got a few weeks left to buy your case of party beads, join a krewe and get your plan in place before heading down to New Orleans.

It’s the most popular time of year in southern Louisiana, which means that crowds are going to be thick and prices are high. But that doesn’t mean that your vacation has to be expensive. There are plenty of ways to run through Mardi Gras on a budget, and we’ll lead you through a few in this guide.

1. Lodging is obviously the biggest expense, and unless you plan on passing out in a bar each night you’ll need to come up with a few good options. Luckily, Homewood Suites has several properties within a stone’s through of the festivities, one in Slidell, LA and another in Covington. Neither is within walking distance of the madness, but that can also be a good thing. A bit of peace and quiet can go a long way toward helping you recover from a hangover, and the few bucks that you spend on a cab are worth the savings made on the hotel.

2. After sleeping, the next two priorities at Mardi Gras are eating and drinking. The cheapest way to do that is with street food. You’ll be able to find something interesting in any direction that you head in, but for the best inspiration check out Drick’s Rambling Cafe, where author Drick Perry takes a tantalizing walk through the myriad options for street food in New Orleans. His content is supplemented by some other fun Mardi Grad tidbits from Cajun Chef Ryan, and over on his site you can dig up a few recipes for southern food (including king cake!) that you can cook up in your Homewood Suites kitchenette.

3. Keeping your eyes out for specials in bars along and off the parade routes is also a good way to save a few dollars. The restaurants and bars located only a block away from the action tend to have lower prices and fewer tourists. A good place to start is The Club Ms. Mae’s, where $2 drinks are the norm all day and dive bar fans can feel at home. Just make sure you show up before 10 p.m. or after 2 a.m.; otherwise the crowd may suffocate you.

New Orleans is by no means and expensive town, but during high tourist season it can be difficult to see the deals through the masses. A bit of patience and planning will help ensure you have the best budget Mardi Gras.