Light Effects in AE

Could anyone lend some lighting secrets in AE that don\'t need filters like Trapcode Shine or Lux? Need to add some sparkle on a budget.

Dylan Dietz
The Motion Station
Visual Effects, Stock Footage and Graphics Training Materials.
http://www.themotionstation.com

Also, here's a way of making the lights visible (volumetric cone) in AE without trapcode Lux. It's good to read the whole thing but you can also scroll at the bottom to download the script.
http://www.petertorpey.com/tutorials/volume_light/

Tudor "Ted" Jelescu
Senior Compositor/VFX Artist