Recent Posts

  • 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 might be just the spur you need to get started.…

  • Credit Reports and Scores: What 20-Somethings Need to Know

    The intricacies of the credit system and how your credit score and credit report are calculated is a dull subject for most consumers. Getting a handle on how this all works while in your 20’s can set you on a…

  • 10 Essential Life Skills for 20-Somethings

    The life lessons that you learn in your 20s should help make you an independent person. Some are financial and some are practical. Your financial accomplishments will help you survive in emergencies, make your older years more comfortable, and build…

  • 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 and now I’m back to share the results. I am…

  • 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. From decorations and themed baked goods to snacks and booze,…

  • 10 Tools to Help You Become a Smarter Consumer

    The first week of March is National Consumer Protection Week, and government and private organizations across the nation have been sharing advice and resources for consumers. Topics discussed range from online privacy and scams to debt and money management. Cheapism.com…

  • A Unique Twist on a Cheap Dinner Party

    It’s been a few weeks since the holiday party season ended, and it’s about time to get back into the social swing of things. A dinner party with homemade vittles…

  • 10 Ways to Get Organized for Less

    Most of us need to get organized, but who wants to spend a fortune doing so? Between what you find at the dollar store and in your junk drawer, there…

  • No Health Insurance? How to Avoid Obamacare Penalty Fees

    The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of people sign up for health insurance, but it also penalizes anyone who opts out of coverage. If you failed to sign up…

  • 12 Cheap Winter Date Ideas to Melt Your Partner’s Heart

    The weather outside is frightful and wintertime fun can get mighty expensive in many parts of the country. A day on the ski slopes or a meal at a hot…

  • 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…

  • Score Savings by Refinancing Your Mortgage

    Housing is one of the biggest expenses most people shoulder, so reducing your monthly housing bill can make a big difference in your overall budget. For the millions of people…

  • Lingerie for Less: Alluring Alternatives to Upscale Pieces

    It doesn’t matter what you wear; sexy is a state of mind. There’s no need to shell out hundreds of dollars for a few pieces of material that probably won’t…

  • Vrbo

    10 Spring Break Rentals to Save You Money on a Hotel

    Spring break conjures visions of 24/7 booze-filled partying in warm, sandy climes. But the cost! Flights and hotel can eat up most of a poor student’s budget, leaving little left…

  • 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…

  • What It Costs to Opt Out of Obamacare

    While filing taxes this year you may notice a new question on the form: Did you have health insurance throughout 2014? If yes, check the box. If no, a penalty…

  • Enroll in Automatic Bill Pay and Save

    Automatic bill pay is yet another perk of the ever-evolving instantaneous Internet age. Many consumers take advantage of this convenient, rewarding way of paying bills. Others remain wary about authorizing…