There are some Tix4Tonite places where you can get same day tickets for about 1/2 off. Also pick up all the brochures you see (not the porn cards though) and look through them for coupons. If you go online and do google searches you can find lots of coupons for some of the lesser shows and also for food (2-for-1 at Nathans). The American Casino Guide sells for about $18 and has coupons for 2-for-1 buffet, etc. Restaurant.com has good deals for some restaurants ... look especially for those in and around casinos (Tacone Flavor Bar and Grill at Planet Hollywood is a good one) ... right now (I think through 1/19 they have an 80% off code INDULGE).
Lots of ways to do Vegas on the cheap! Believe me, it is the only way to go!
If you are strapped for money, I would try to go to some of the lounges that have free entertainment and then see what you can find for coupons and at Tix4Tonite. We saw the Platters/Coasters/Marvelettes for $60 for 2 people and it was FABULOUS ... we got the tickets at Tix4Tonite but have since seen lots of coupons.
Don't forget that at Ellis Island (dumpy casino behind Bally's) you can get a Steak-and-eggs breakfast for $4.99 ... not on the menu, you have to ask. It's DELICIOUS. If you go on LV discussion boards, they all know about it. Lots of things like this that you can pick up from people.
Don't know what bus tours are for Red Rock Canyon, but that is just out Charleston and is a wonderful way to spend the day, hiking, etc. Just be sure to have lots of water with you because it is the desert and you can get very dehydrated, even in March. If you happen to rent a car (and I'd recommend doing this one day for your Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon day) this is the best way to do it and will be worth skipping one of the high-priced shows to do.
Anyway, do your research and I think you will have as much fun trying to find the places to use your coupons as you would gambling. Also recommend using the city buses. It is $7 for 24 hours ... you'll see the "Duece" traveling along the strip (double-decker bus) ... that's a city bus and travels all along the strip to the bus terminal downtown. Your pass also gets you on the other city buses so you can explore some off-strip areas as well. In the books I mentioned, you will also find out about the free shuttles from Bill's to the Orleans and from Bally's to the Rio. These are shuttles that I really haven't seen advertised - you just have to find out about them some other way.
Have fun. We will be there March 5-12 as well.
I think seeing the Lion King show would be great; however, if you are strapped for cash you may want to take a miss. I have been seeing offers for
discount tickets on LK. We have tended to skip the Disney shows because we go to WDW every year and many of them are similar to what you see there. As you might have gathered, we try to do things on the cheap! LOL.