Want to spend less money and party more during Winter Music Conference 2010? Follow our nine rules to maximize your hard earned dollar and limited time in Miami.

Rule #1 – Plan way ahead. This goes for buying party tickets, booking your hotel and flights, and arriving to parties. The longer you wait, the more you can expect to spend. Planning ahead is the key to saving money.

Rule #2 – Stay close to the parties. If at all possible avoid staying in North Beach, or anywhere beyond walking distance of the strip (1st Street to 40th Street is “The Strip”). The best location to stay is between 15th Street and 43rd Street on Collins or Washington Ave.

Rule #3 – Share your hotel room. Split a hotel room with up to four people, but don’t let the concierge know this. Most hotels have a  limit to the number of people who can stay in a room and charge for extra guests, whereas other places don’t take too much stock either way, as long as you’re not making noise and check out on time. Most of the larger hotels will actually fine you for having more than the indicated number of guests in the room, but thanks to their large size, as long as you stagger your entrances and exits, no one will really notice.

Rule #4 – Use public transportation. If you do end up farther than walking distance from the main strip, modes of transportation can be hard to find if you don’t have the cash to shell out on a rental car. There are other options though including: bus, cab, bike rental and bumming a ride with new friends.

Rule #5 – Drink cheap. One of the largest expenses during Winter Music Conference week is booze. There are a lot of ways to get your drink on without going broke. To avoid spending $7 for a Budlight and $12 for cocktails drink before leaving your room, drink en route, and try to sneak in alcohol wherever you go. When you do find yourself at a party, go with the $10 well vodka or seek out the super hooked up sponsored parties that offer free booze.

Rules #6 – Eat cheap. You can avoid pay for breakfast and buying $20 lunches and $50 dinners with a few eating options. Eat a free breakfast at your hotel. For a filling $5 lunch hit up the many corner Cuban stands and while you are there order their espresso which kicks Redbull’s booty. For an inexpensive dinner, avoid anything directly on Ocean Drive, as they hike up their prices for the tourists.

Rule #7 – Pack carefully. Think of Winter Music Conference as a rigorous test of endurance and prepare accordingly. Sunscreen is vital for survival. So are comfortable shoes, Band-Aids, Tylenol and water. Make sure to raid your medicine cabinet before leaving your house for your travels. You probably already own the necessities you need to survive with, there is no point in wasting the money buying everything again. Also, don’t pack a lot of valuables, you’re going to be drinking and partying and let’s face it, drunk you is a lot less reliable than sober you. Check out our checklist on what to bring to Winter Music Confernce.

Rule #8 – Avoid party hopping. A guaranteed way to rack up expenses and waste valuable time during Winter Music Conference week is by party chasing. Don’t leave a good party in search of a better one, you will regret it. Try to map-out your itinerary and avoid only hitting up the big venues. This will ensure you don’t spend most of your night in line. And remember, the best place in the world is wherever your friends are!