How Often Do You Pay For Parking?

[Iggy]

My goal is to live as cheaply as possible while traveling. And I'm fairly good at stealth parking in cities. But there are occasions when there is just no free parking where I want to go. Or it costs too much in gas or bother looking for a free spot.
So what are your thoughts and tips for minimizing money spent for parking? Besides staying out of town. I go to cities for work, entertainment, shopping, showers, visiting friends, etc. But I'm always looking to cut expenses.
Portland Oregon is near my homebase of Salem and I like to visit sometimes. But downtown is quite expensive for parking. I find it cheaper and more fun to park for free at Lloyd Center Mall and buy an all-day light rail pass. Then I can ride the train downtown, explore some on foot, then ride the train around the city for more adventures.
I spent two weeks in Vegas recently. I mostly parked in the Circus Circus parking garage or in the lot behind the High Roller Ferris wheel. But when I wanted to be downtown, the places to park were charging for parking. Across from Main Street Station casino is a lot that charges $3 weekdays and $5 weekends to enter. I've stayed 2-3 nights in a row there in my cargo van, with no trouble. Just have to watch out for those security people on bikes.
I'm currently parked at the Mexico border lot in San Ysidero. It's $7 per day from 10 am-10 am. This is my second day walking across the border to visit Tijuana. And both nights sleeping in my van in the parking lot. I heard noises in the van next to me last night, so I'm not the only one doing this.
Many Indian casinos are now charging for overnighting in their lots. But a van doesn't stand out as much as RVs and campers. So I haven't paid yet.
In San Francisco, you either pay to park downtown or you search for a free spot in the residential areas close by (which can be hard to find). If you find a free spot, there can be a lot of walking to get downtown.
I named specific places and my ways to save money on parking. Your turn.

 

[mockturtle]

I am currently in AZ and am spending a week in a county park with electric hookups because both the unusually high temperatures and my severe allergies are forcing me indoors with A/C. For the most part, I camp for free [as in the past two weeks] or pay a few dollars at a BLM or NFS campground.

 

[TMG51]

I've literally never paid to park my van anywhere.

 

[USExplorer]

Drive a few miles outside of Vegas downtown and the strip, and there is free parking galore, from 24 hour stores to empty desert lots to truck stops. I've been staying at the TA last few nights. 20 bucks will buy you a three day pass on the RTC, so I just ride the bus wherever I need to go.

SF has the MUNI, for $2.25 a ride you can get anywhere you want in the city. No need to pay far more than that for parking. The west side of town has lots of free street parking frequented by vandwellers.

I've paid for day parking in several cities, but I've never paid for overnight parking, except one time that I stayed in a campground.