Recent Posts

  • Price Survey: The Best Stores for School Clothes

    Nine out of 10 parents are planning to buy their kids new clothes for the upcoming school year, according to a National Retail Federation survey. The average expected outlay: $235.10. Where should families shop to stay on budget? Cheapism.com compared…

  • Spending Diary: Home Maintenance Is Eating My Renovation Budget

    Our house in the country is under renovation just about all the time. It’s not particularly old, just particularly quirky. Much of it was built by the previous owners. Some features, such as the plumbing, are mostly jerry-rigged; others are…

  • Finding the Best Roadside Assistance Plan

    AAA may be the best-known provider of roadside assistance, with more than 50 million members, but it has plenty of competition. Numerous insurance firms, automakers, oil companies, and even cellphone service providers offer assistance plans for emergencies on the road.…

  • 11 Online Consignment Stores You Need for Back-to-School

    Kids’ clothes are a major expense that can drain parents’ budgets faster than Legos, Monster High dolls, and junk food combined. Children outgrow their clothes well before they’re worn out and sometimes even before the tags are removed. But with…

  • Should You Refinance Your Student Loans?

    Student loan debt has surpassed $1.2 trillion, ticking up several thousand dollars per second, according to FinAid.org. For recent graduates entering the workforce, the average loan for a bachelor’s degree amounts to more than $35,000. Failure to repay can lower…

  • 6 Ways to Save on Essential Oils

    Essential oils are used most commonly for minor therapeutic purposes, from soothing an upset stomach to boosting energy to alleviating pain to inducing sleep, and so on. For consumers who abide by the oils’ perceived powers, taking the cure requires…

  • Senior woman buying vegetables at farmers market
    nd3000/istockphoto

    Spending Diary: Why I Shop at Farmers Markets

    The first sign of summer, to me, is strawberries. I don’t eat fruit out of season, and come April I am thoroughly sick of oranges. By the time the first…

  • 10 Summer Side Dishes You Can Make From Your Garden

    There is nothing fresher than food that makes its way straight from the backyard to the dining room table. Get the most out of your vegetable garden and cut grocery…

  • 10 Places to Find Free or Cheap Summer Reads

    Henry James said the two most beautiful words in the English language are “summer afternoon.” What better way to spend yours than lying in the shade with a good book?…

  • 10 Easy DIY Fashion Accessories

    A new fashion accessory has the power to instantly perk up an outfit. But running out to buy a new necklace, bracelet, or handbag isn’t always in the budget. With…

  • Forget Paid TV: 10 Popular Free Roku Channels

    There are lots of streaming devices on the market, from smart TVs to Chromecast to Amazon Fire TV. But the household leader, at least for now, is Roku, which entertains…

  • 10 Money-Saving Vegetables to Use in the Summer

    Summertime brings fruits and vegetables in excess and produce prices at rock-bottom. Take advantage of this natural cycle, when the produce is bursting with flavor, by using the foodstuffs as…

  • 7 Things to Know Before Opening a Joint Bank Account

    Perhaps nothing stresses a relationship more than money. Financial arguments are the top predictor of divorce, according to a 2012 study out of Kansas State University. Different spending habits, salaries,…

  • City vs. Suburbs: A Tale of Two Retirements

    Locale can affect spending habits in retirement, but some things are the same regardless where you live. Cheapism.com interviewed two retirees to learn how their spending has changed since they…

  • 25 Free and Cheap Things to Do in London

    London can be an expensive place to visit, especially for Americans, who get only 65 pence to the dollar. But there are so many cheap or free things to do…

  • Taste Test: Cheap Ice Cream Treats vs. Premium Brands

    In the heat of summer, not much sounds better than an ice-cold ice cream novelty. National Ice Cream Day falls on the second Sunday of July every year (July 19…

  • 10 Tips for the Ultimate Summer Staycation

    Everyone deserves a break from the daily grind, whether it’s an all-out excursion to somewhere tropical or some low-key vacation time. In a recent survey commissioned by FatWallet, 81 percent…

  • 10 Cheap Ways to Prevent and Soothe Sunburns

    It’s mid-summer and the sun is out in full force. Whether enjoying a backyard barbecue, long hike, or chilling by the pool, we’re exposed to the sun’s UVA and UVB…