Cheap, but good quality jeans ( for summer )!?

Alrighty everybody,

I'm looking to buy some new jeans, since my current ones are getting too big on me.

A lot of the stores really close to my house ( Kohl's, Carson's, Old Navy ) don't really have waists smaller than 32 inches. I'm looking for 30 inch waists. ( Apparently, not many people have waists that small anymore =/ )

Since stores like Hollister, A&F, A|X and Aeropostale have clothes that are made to fit tight, would I be better off looking for jeans there?

Where do you suggest I shop for jeans?

If you couldn't tell from the avatar, I'm a guy if that matters. I usually answer my own questions, but I've never really paid attention to my jeans until recently, when I realized I should be wearing them tighter to show off my assets.

Pun intended. =P

Also, jeans that come pre-ripped: Yay or nay? I rather rip them myself by being clumsy. Haha!

Cheers all!