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.
Erin Kuschner
Erin is a Raleigh-based writer and editor with over a decade of experience covering food, travel, and lifestyle content across the country. She loves visiting local thrift stores to add to her growing glassware collection and thinks hiking in the (free!) great outdoors trumps any gym membership. Prior to joining Cheapism, Erin was a reporter and editor at Boston.com, Time Out Austin, and Time Out Los Angeles, and has written for the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, Eater Austin, The Local Palate, and other publications. She has joined way too many book clubs and will never say no to tacos and a great gin cocktail.
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.)
Alex Andonovska
Alex Andonovska is a staff writer at Cheapism, 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.
Rachel Schneider
Rachel is a Michigan-based writer who has dabbled in a variety of subject matter throughout her career. As a mom of multiple young children, she tries to maintain a sustainable lifestyle for her family. She grows vegetables in her garden, gets her meat in bulk from local farmers, and cans fruits and vegetables with friends. Her kids have plenty of hand-me-downs in their closets, but her husband jokes that before long, they might need to invest in a new driveway thanks to the frequent visits from delivery trucks dropping off online purchases (she can’t pass up a good deal, after all).