About Us
Times are tough. We don’t need to tell you that times are tough.
Inflation is soaring, interest rates are through the roof, and companies are laying off tens of thousands of people every other day. The cost of living has exploded by 24% in the last 14 years, but there hasn’t been a single increase to the federal minimum wage. Car insurance, healthcare, hidden fees, and rent are all due again at the end of the month. The system is rigged, and they’re hitting us from all sides.
Fred Rogers once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
Well, where are the helpers? They’re your friends and family telling you how to lower a bill. They’re strangers online sharing their strategies for making ends meet. They’re the industry insiders exposing secret loopholes to exploit. They’re the cashier at the grocery store swiping their club card to save you money because you don’t have one.
And then there’s us.
Our vision at Cheapism is to be the go-to resource for those that are frustrated with the absurdities and indignities of how expensive it is to be alive (hence our tagline: Because Being Alive is Expensive). We envision a community of solution-oriented people sharing the knowledge and tricks they’ve employed in navigating the complicated world of spending, saving, and living fulfilling lives. Our goal is to be a trusted collaborator and co-conspirator with frugal-minded rebels who refuse to play by the rules.
Our Mission
To improve the lives of our readers by confronting their financial pain points and providing them with practical and creative solutions.
Note: Cheapism does not accept or publish guest blog posts. Any solicitations, as such, will result in the sender’s email being blocked from our servers.
cheap·ism noun
/CHēp-izəm/
- An economic system in which individuals acquire high-quality goods and/or services at a relatively low price or cost.
- The theory that cheap (low in price or cost) doesn’t have to mean cheap (of little value or poor quality).
Origin of cheapism
circa 2009: from cheap, low in price or cost; not expensive
Team
Max Levitte
Max always tries to buy gas in New Jersey because it’s cheaper than in NYC. He shops for fruit and vegetables at Costco instead of the pricey supermarket. He registers domain names with GoDaddy because it costs 200% less than the competition. He gave up his land line and cable years ago. Max has spent the last 27 years managing content, traffic, and monetization for internet companies and running large-scale consumer-focused websites. Prior to launching Cheapism.com, he served as the VP of marketing and monetization for Viewpoints Network and before that as general manager for ConsumerSearch.com, until it was acquired by The New York Times Co. Before his internet career, he worked as a journalist, which is why he loves content so much. Max holds an M.A. in Media Studies from The New School in New York City and a B.A. in World History from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He lives in New York City. You can reach him at max at cheapism.com.
Ori Elraviv
Ori prides himself on reinventing his wardrobe while discovering gems from his favorite designer, John Varvatos, at bargain prices on eBay. It’s become a bit of a problematic obsession, but he is trying to control himself. Ori is a leader and multicultural individual who has built and managed teams across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the U.S. His family has unfortunately fallen victim to these traits, having to relocate and adjust their lives multiple times. Prior to joining Cheapism, Ori was CEO and co-founder of Literally Media, leading its growth to become the largest collection of humor and internet culture brands in the digital media space.
Felix Sheng
Felix moved to Brooklyn where he could afford a larger, more light-filled apartment than any he might have found Manhattan. He tries to purchase everything on his credit cards, making sure to pay off the balance every month. The mileage he earns by charging all his purchases helps offset his travel expenses — and Felix travels a lot. Felix has worked in technology for the past 18 years, having cut his teeth at The New York Times Digital. He subsequently moved through several dot-coms into his own consulting practice. Felix has been developing custom website back ends for longer than he cares to remember. He has a degree in mathematics from the University of Chicago.
Danny Jensen
Danny is a Los Angeles-based editor and writer who covers food, travel, and more for Cheapism. He’s co-author of the guidebook 100 Things to Do in Los Angeles Before You Die, 2nd edition (Reedy Press), and his work can also be found on Thrillist, Time Out, TravelZoo, KCET, and elsewhere. He grew up in Boston and received his B.A. in English from Vassar College. He’ll sing you an opera aria if you ask nicely. Danny has enjoyed DIY projects that save money since long before it was the cool thing to do. Whether he’s growing his own vegetables, pickling them or cooking elaborate dinners from scratch, he’s pretty convinced the food tastes better than spending a fortune on a night out. When he does go out, he has a knack for tracking down the best free events and concerts in town, along with finding delicious, cheap eats at holes-in-the-wall or food trucks. He’s also never met an impulse buy that he couldn’t pass up in favor of bargain hunting for a better deal.
Lacey Muszynski
Lacey Muszynski is a writer and editor with over 15 years of experience in food, travel, and lifestyle content. She’s written for Serious Eats, Thrillist, Taste of Home, and countless local Wisconsin publications. At any given time, you’re likely to find her exploring Milwaukee’s restaurant patios in search of the best happy hour snacks, perfecting her favorite bloody mary recipe, telling anyone who will listen that the Midwest is best, and deciding what to do with that $1 discount bag of not-quite-moldy-yet lemons. (The answer is limoncello.)
Wilder Shaw
Wilder Shaw sneaks his own candy into movie theaters, makes his own birthday cards, and laughs out loud at the very idea of valet parking. What a guy. He’s an LA-based writer whose byline you’ve seen in places like Thrillist, Time Out, Citizine, We Like LA, and numerous others. But let’s be honest, you probably recognize him from when he played Trick-or-Treater #2 on an episode of The Nanny. Stalk him on Twitter and Instagram.
Alex Andonovska
Alex Andonovska is a staff writer at Cheapism and MediaFeed, based in Porto, Portugal. With 12 years of writing and editing at places like VintageNews.com, she’s your go-to for all things travel, food, and lifestyle. Alex specializes in turning “shower thoughts” into well-researched articles and sharing fun facts that are mostly useless but sure to bring a smile to your face. When she’s not working, you’ll find her exploring second-hand shops, antique stores, and flea markets.