BARGAIN HUNTER LOOK HERE FOR CHEAP AIRFARE AT 11TH HOUR.

Byline: JULIA SCOTT

DON'T BREAK THE BANK: A friend recently told me about LastMinuteTravel.com, a Web site that has supercheap, last-minute airfares. A weekend round-trip ticket to New York City that gave me just a few hours to pack was $462.60. Most of the time when you search for a flight just hours in advance, you are talking four digits, minimum. Buying a ticket to the Big Apple a weekend out cut the price to $314.20. Bada-boom, bada-bing! Their site also lets you search top destinations, deals or packages. They also make reservations for rental cars and hotels.

LINCOLN LUNCH CHILI: Grabbed a meal for a fiver (ya know, the bill with Lincoln on it) in Canoga Park at Follow Your Heart restaurant. The food is vegetarian with many vegan options, but don't let the lack of dead animals scare you away. The food is hearty, well-spiced and makes you feel good. I like their chili, though a few of the beans were a tad more al dente than I prefer. A cup is $3.50 and a bowl is $4.95 and comes with crackers or a roll. A half-salad is also nearly a Lincoln Lunch at $5.50. If you want to splurge, go for a mocha milkshake (dairy or nondairy), which easily feeds two, for $3.75. The restaurant is at the back of the grocery story on the left. Cozy place.

Visit them at 21825 Sherman Way in Canoga Park. [phone].

BAG A MAG: Magazines.com has a $5 off coupon for a short list of magazines that actually includes some good ones. No Montana Fly Fisherman here, folks. (With apologies to those who fly-fish in the Big Sky state.) The coupon gives you 10 issues of Women's Health for $10 or 10 issues of Everyday Food for $13. Runner's World, which I enjoy reading when I'm not running (so basically, all the time), is $15 for 12 issues. Go to www.insidesocal.com/bargain for the coupon. Expires Nov. 15.

STAPLES 12 PERCENT OFF: Staples is appreciating its customers -- more than they usually do -- until Saturday with a 12 percent off coupon that is good on most items. For in-store purchases, not online. Go to www.insidesocal.com/bargain for the printable coupon.

Caveats: Offer excludes personal computers, laptops, phone cards, postage stamps and a few other items.

BEST BETS FOR BRUINS GEAR: Having a hard time finding UCLA gear on sale? Tell me about it. You crazy fans buy so much of this stuff the prices are up there! But you don't have to pay full price. After a Web search, I found at least one place that has gear at relatively reasonable prices.

At UCLAstore.com, T-shirts were $16 to $22, sweat shirts were $41 to $61 and hats were $15 to $22. At ColleageGear.com, the apparel selection was basically limited to 2007 Final Four stuff. A sweat shirt was $46, a T-shirt was $26, and a hat was $27. Not exactly jaw-dropping. eBruin.com has the best prices I've seen so far. Their sweat shirts were $25 to $45 with a good variety of colors and styles. Most are hooded, though. A dark-navy, nonhood sweat shirt was $35.

A note to USC fans: I haven't forgotten about you!

OPPOSITE OF SPAM: Forgive this brief self-promotion: I now e-mail a daily digest of all the day's blog posts, so you don't have to visit the Web site or wait for Thursday's column. Just e-mail me at [e-mail], and I will add it to the list. It's much better than getting spam and it's free, though some readers have asked what I charge, contributing to the overinflation of my ego! The digest may even help you save a buck or three.

SAVE ON A FLU SHOT: It's that time of year when you start sniffling and snuffling and aching and coughing. Time to get a flu shot. If your internal clock has not already told you so here is a reminder: GET A FLU SHOT! I *really* don't want to catch your germs when you decide you are healthy enough to come to work and sneeze on me. I have even found you a few places to get a flu shot at a decent price. At my doctor's office it is $28 plus my $15 co-pay.

Yikes! I'm definitely not going there.

The lowest price is at Sam's Club, which is having a three-day promotion today through Saturday where they are giving flu shots for $20, no membership necessary. Sadly, the San Fernando and Santa Clarita locations are not coming up as participating, but Palmdale, Glendora and Oxnard are. If you do go, the hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The going rate at CVS, Rite Aid, Longs Drugs and Walgreens is $30. Some require appointments, others have age minimums. Check each chain's Web site for details. Note: Rite Aid's flu clinic ends today.

FREE MINIHIGHLIGHTS: Yossi's Salon in Woodland Hills had so much success with earlier coupons I posted on the blog that he is offering a new deal for Bargain Hunter readers. Free six-foil highlights and a clear cellophane treatment. Now, six foils are not enough to do your whole head, but will frame your face with a few wisps of color. He is offering the freebie until Oct. 31 to attract more customers. Not bad if you want to do a test run before plopping down major dollars to highlight your whole noggin.

Visit them at 5349 Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Woodland Hills. [phone]. Tell Yossi you read it on the Bargain Hunter!

WORLD PEACE CAN WAIT: A funny story -- or sad depending on your sense of humor -- in the paper recently. More people want a computer for Christmas than peace and happiness, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. (Not that they're biased, or anything.) I'm sure you and I will take the high road - all we *really* want is a slip of paper saying a contribution to our favorite charity has been made, right? For a miniguide to buying a computer, go to www.insidesocal.com/bargain.