Living on a Budget

  • Ranking Hotel Rewards: Where Should Your Loyalty Lie?

    Even for infrequent travelers, hotel loyalty programs are worth joining. Membership is free and often yields benefits right off the bat. It may be just a small perk, such as late checkout, or a true money saver such as free…

  • 10 Money-Saving Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent

    When perusing the listings of homes for sale, it may seem easiest to just contact the first real estate agent who pops up or whose name appears in the mailer you received. But the truth is, real estate agents have…

  • 10 Ways to Save on Amusement Parks

    Americans love amusement parks, the classic summer retreat for people of all ages for more than a century. This is a $12 billion a year industry, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, and as any park…

  • Amazon Prime members offer in front of the Whole Foods stores

    10 Memberships That Pay for Themselves

    Many buying clubs and online services charge a monthly or annual fee. Before paying for membership, it’s important to weigh the costs and benefits of joining. Cheapism.com found 10 memberships that pay for themselves through discounts and deals. AAA For…

  • Don’t Touch the Minibar! How to Avoid 10 Annoying Hotel Fees

    It’s easier than ever to find good deals on hotel rooms online, but the actual price at the check-out counter is often higher due to fees and charges that are tacked onto the bill. In 2014, hotels made $2.25 billion…

  • 13 Money-Saving Apple Watch Apps

    With a starting price of $349, the Apple Watch is anything but cheap. Money-saving apps available on the latest smartwatch, however, can help recoup some of the cost. From budget tracking to discounted hotel reservations, here are 13 ways Apple…

  • 10 Tips for Getting a Private Jet for Less

    Skip the lines, forget taking off your shoes, and hop aboard your private jet. Now it’s time to unbuckle your wallet. Regardless whether your thoughts veer towards purchasing one outright…

  • Is Switching to Solar Power Worth It?

    For eco-minded consumers, residential solar power is an attractive alternative to relying on a utility company. Harvesting energy from the sun provides electricity without the greenhouse gas emissions of traditional…

  • 21 Common Household Items to Reuse and Upcycle

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the average American generates 4.38 pounds of waste every day. About 1.51 pounds of that is recycled or composted, but that leaves a…

  • 10 Life Hacks to Save You Money

    Every year, new products pop up that seem important to buy, at least for a little while. It could be a banana slicer, a portion control basket for pasta, or…

  • How to Make the Most of Facebook Yard Sales

    Facebook tag sale groups are the hot way to buy and sell these days. With hundreds, if not thousands, of buy/sell/trade groups targeting everything from your town to your interests,…

  • Is Your Grocery Budget Too Big?

    Are you a thrifty shopper or do you go all out when stocking the fridge? Do you head to the market to buy whatever looks good regardless of cost or…

  • Skip the Flip-Flops: 10 Ways to Save on Kids’ Clothes

    Kids tear through their clothes, literally. They either outgrow things at an alarming rate or wear them so hard that they don’t last longer than a few months. And while…

  • 12 Steps to Hiring a Contractor for Less

    This is the time of year when you look at your home afresh and think about all the improvements you’d like to make. The prospect of some tax refund cash…

  • How I Saved More Than $500 in a Month

    This February we invited readers to take the Frugal Month Challenge and commit to what some have called a “no-buy month.” My family of four embarked on this cheap-living challenge…

  • 11 Ways to Throw a March Madness Party on the Cheap

    March Madness is quickly approaching and throwing a party to cheer for any of the 68 teams in the weeks-long tournament is what a devoted fan of college basketball does.…

  • 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 Ideas for a Budget-Friendly Guys’ or Girls’ Night In

    Taylor Swift is the new queen of girls’ night in. Every week, it seems, Swift posts another photo on Instagram of herself with her famous friends cooking, singing, and dancing…