Blog Posts by Cheapism.com

By Jane Pae Magaro, Cheapism.com

There's nothing you won't do for your pet -- but wait until you see the vet bill. According to a poll conducted by AP-Petside.com and reported on NYDailyNews.com, vet visits during 2010 cost pet owners an average of $505 and more than $1,000 for serious illnesses. Although pet insurance is an option, most pet owners pay for everything, from screenings to major surgery, out of their own pocket.

Veterinary expenses might leave you feeling a bit ill yourself, so here are some preventive, money-saving tips.

Related: Affordable air purifier recommendations

Your pet's health is priceless.

Get Ahead of Problems with Regular Checkups. It may seem like a no-brainer, but keeping your pet healthy is the easiest way to avoid costly procedures and prescriptions. Take your pet to the vet's office for an annual checkup and all the necessary vaccines. A thorough examination can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in potential procedures and drugs through early detection

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

As back-to-school sales wind down, things start looking up for anyone thinking about buying a new laptop. Decide.com, which tracks prices for consumer goods, has pinpointed the end of September and the second half of December as two of the best times to find a deal on a laptop. The site's CEO told Forbes that consumers should shop after the back-to-school rush. And of course Black Friday always brings discounts.

Related: Top 4 inexpensive thermostats

Can't wait for a deal? Cheapism has pored over reviews in search of affordable laptops that earn experts' favor. Sale or no sale, you can snap up one of these models for well under $600.

Now might be the best time to look for a laptop.

• The new Dell Inspiron 15R (starting at $550) features a 750GB hard drive, 6GB of RAM, and four USB 3.0 ports with fast transfer speeds. This 6-pound laptop has a 15.6-inch screen and comes with a second-generation Intel Core i3-2370M processor (2.5 Ghz). For more processing power and a price that's (barely)

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

Boo! It's almost Halloween so we're going to treat you to some spooky statistics and trick you with some frugal homemade costume ideas.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), each person who celebrates Halloween this year will spend, on average, a total of $79.82 for decorations, costumes, and candy. And, in a ten-year high, seven out of 10 people will mark the holiday while turning it into an $8 billion retail bonanza.

For this one night of frightful fun, though, you can stick to your thrifty ways and conjure up cheap Halloween costumes for the entire family. Here's how:

Make a homemade lego costume.

Related: Best budget lego sets

Homemade Halloween Costumes for Kids. Children will wear their Halloween costume once, or maybe twice, and certainly won't fit into it next year, so don't go overboard. All the cute get-ups circulating these days are tempting, but you can create an original costume for much less. These are some of the best homemade

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

A bookcase, a rocking chair, a Dell computer monitor, infant formula, kids clothes, gift bags, a bathroom sink -- these are just a few of the things people were giving away for free recently on our local branch of the Freecycle Network. See something you could use? The Freecycle Network is a potential gold mine for frugal consumers seeking free stuff online.

The Freecycle Network is an excellent way to get free stuff online.

Related: Inexpensive laptop reviews

What The Freecycle Network Is. The Freecycle Network connects people who want to give away and acquire free stuff online with the stated goal of keeping it out of landfills. This all happens locally. What started as one small email group in Arizona in 2003 has grown into 5,061 groups and more than 9 million total members throughout the country and the world. The nonprofit organization is run by volunteers.

How The Freecycle Network Works. Start by visiting Freecycle.org to search for your location and request to join the group that covers your

By Alyssa Goldman, Cheapism.com

Thank goodness for medication: It speeds up recovery, cures common illnesses, and keeps chronic diseases under control. But for all the benefits of modern medicine, it does come with a major downside: the cost. Luckily there are prescription savings to be found. Next time you visit your doctor, keep these cost-cutting techniques in mind:

Medication is often necessary but there are ways to cut costs.

Related: Diet pill reviews

1. Opt for generics. Generic prescription drugs cost an average of 80 to 85 percent less than their brand-name counterparts, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That adds up to serious prescription savings. The FDA assures consumers there is no need to worry about safety or quality: Generic medications are just as effective and include the same active ingredients as brand-name products.

2. Compare prices. DestinationRx lets consumers shop around for the cheapest forms of prescription medications. You must register with the site and enter the name, dose, and

By Rachel Conover, Cheapism.com

By shopping standards, October is that odd month that sits smack in the middle of the back-to-school frenzy and the holiday shopping extravaganza. But frugal shoppers need not despair -- there are plenty of deals to be had, albeit a little varied. The best October deals range from leftover items from previous months to goods discounted in advance of the big shopping days to come. And don't forget, Halloween happens in October.

Related: Low-priced toy recommendations

Halloween is just around the corner.

Here's the frugalista's list of October deals:

Halloween Gear. Unless you thought way ahead and bought a Halloween costume and decorations last November when prices were at their lowest, you'll need to be on the lookout for deals this month. The longer you wait, the bigger the deals. There is a fine line, however -- you won't find many costume choices and sizes if you wait too long. The best time to buy Halloween gear is mid-month when you'll still have some selection and

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

For most people fall is open enrollment season for health insurance offered through their employer. This is the time to review coverage and options and to make changes that suit your needs. Your decisions can affect how much or how little you pay in health insurance and related costs for the entire year, so don't blow it off. The following tips can help you choose the plan that's right for you at a price that won't wear you down.

Take advantage of open enrollment and choose the best health insurance plan for you and your family.

Related: Top 4 inexpensive diet pills

1. Review your health insurance plan. Many people just let their health insurance renew from one year to the next without looking it over. Big mistake. Health insurance plans change and even a slight tweak may mean higher costs in the form of premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. Also, your health situation may be changing. One year you may need more coverage and the next year you may need less. There's no reason to pay for coverage you won't use.

2. Review other health

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

With September winding down, the CATalyst Council, a coalition of animal health and welfare organizations, wants to know what you've done for your cat this month. The group has dubbed this Happy Cat Month and lists providing toys as the No. 1 thing cat owners can do for their feline friends. If you don't have a lot of money left over this month for a pet-store shopping spree, there are a variety of homemade cat toys you can create on a slow afternoon with supplies you likely have around the house.

A homemade cat toy is a wonderful way to show your love.

Related: Which is the better buy: Costco or Sam's?

Let's start with instructions for a couple of homemade cat toys that are simple to make:

• Split a walnut in half and clean it out. Put a bell inside and glue the walnut back together with non-toxic glue to turn it into a ball.
• Find a small child's sock that no longer fits or is missing its twin. Put a bell or some catnip into the sock and tie it up for your cat to chase.

If you're