Holidays

  • When the Stores Open for Black Friday 2015

    Black Friday sales have kicked off earlier and earlier in recent years. The holiday creep has reached the early-morning hours of Thanksgiving Day, which might rightly be called Gray Thursday (although laws in a few states do not let stores…

  • Hosting This Holiday? 18 Ways to Cut Stress and Spending

    Holiday entertaining can be stressful — and expensive. Instead of slipping down that rabbit hole, try these 18 tips for saving money, time, and sanity without detracting from the event. Here’s to throwing a budget-friendly and stress-free holiday party! PLAN…

  • 10 Easy Halloween Costumes for Couples on a Budget

    We’ve all been there: It’s the night before the big Halloween party and you and your sweetie only have the clothes on your back, a roll of duct tape, and a leftover pizza box. Now what? Rather than raiding the…

  • 10 Kid-Friendly Party Games and Snacks for Halloween

    With fun costumes, spooky haunted houses, and creepy games, it’s no wonder Halloween scares up so much excitement among kids of all ages. If you’re planning festivities but don’t have a big budget, there’s no need to cringe in horror…

  • 11 Cheap and Easy Halloween Costumes to Make at Home

    It’s possible to create pretty much any Halloween costume by thinking outside the box (putting aside the fact that many of the ideas here start with a box). Choosing to DIY instead of buy can save money on a holiday…

  • 10 Cheap and Trendy Halloween Costumes for 2015

    Every year Halloween creeps up and scares thousands into last-minute, costly costume choices. But just a little planning can lead to a timely and cheap Halloween costume for 2015. Here’s the easy way to do it: Identify pop culture, movie,…

  • 5 Ways to Celebrate Mexican Independence Day

    Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican independence day — that’s actually coming up on Sept. 16, the date commemorating the 1810 call for Mexican independence. The…

  • 10 Tips for Booking Cheap Hotels Over the Holidays

    Planning to visit family for the holidays, and the guest room is not an option? Now is the time to start looking for cheap holiday accommodations. For those who need…

  • 10 Low-Budget Ways to Celebrate the Jewish High Holidays

    Rosh Hashanah, the two-day Jewish New Year, begins Sept. 13 at sundown, marking a marathon of celebratory meals that ends after Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. With synagogue visits…

  • 12 High Holiday Dishes for $4 or Less

    Feasting, symbolically and otherwise, is always an element of Jewish holidays, whether to break the fast after Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, or to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the New…

  • 10 Ways to Save on Valentine’s Day

    Valentine’s Day is approaching, which means many Americans will be dropping dollars in the name of love. Among respondents in a recent survey by the National Retail Federation, women plan…

  • 10 Valentine’s Day Dinners to Make at Home

    Cooking dinner with a loved one or new flame on Valentine’s Day is a fun date idea with benefits: It avoids the hassle of reservations and overpriced prix-fixe menus. Even…

  • Holiday Returns: What You Need to Know

    Gift giving and receiving is complicated and emotional. While the rising popularity of store gift cards and prepaid cards has lessened the worry about returns in the post-holiday frenzy, there…

  • New Year’s Tickets Too Pricey? Try These Alternatives

    New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to mean bidding a frantic farewell to your budget. It’s possible to send the year off with a bang and barely spend a buck. According…

  • 5 Free Black Friday Apps

    It’s that time of year when holiday decorations start showing up in shops and homes and wish lists are getting longer. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday rapidly approaching, the…

  • Where to Find Must-Have Halloween Costumes for Less

    Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card – Enter Cheapism’s 2014 Halloween Sweepstakes on Pinterest. Is your little girl refusing to “let go” the idea of dressing as Princess Elsa this…

  • Best Value on Valentine’s Day Diamonds: The Answer May Surprise You

    Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, so if you’re considering the purchase of jewelry or a similar keepsake, it’s time to start researching the options. A little forethought can save you…

  • 4 Unexpected Items Yield Big Savings on Black Friday

    The biggest shopping day of the year is almost upon us and while many are busy making lists and checking them twice, there are a few things you may have…