Since about last September a local EFADS (Everything For A Dollar
Store) here in Burnaby has been selling red laser pointers with four
symbol-forming holograms for one Canadian buck (a little more than 80
cents US today). I have bought about twenty of these over the last few
months, giving them to friends. I have three left, and the store does
not always have them in stock. It turns out that the holograms are not
the same in all the packages, so we have fun seeing what new and
different symbols turn up. Clearly the manufacture of these is cheap.
Even more impressive, batteries are included. There are three AG13
alkaline cells, exactly what I need for my hp 15C calculator. If I
recall correctly, the last time I refueled my calculator it cost me
twelve bucks at the campus bookstore!
Please don't ask me to send you a pointer; I am aware that anyone on
the list would want one. Just find a good dollar store near you, and
check back frequently. The laser pointer is not the biggest bargain to
be found there. They also sell the batteries separately. There exist
trashy dollar stores, too, so try more than one to be sure.