Blog Posts by Cheapism.com

By Kym Pham, Cheapism.com

Here's to lazy summer days: four cool, refreshing, and cheap summer treats you can make from the comfort of home.

Sparkling juice is a no-fuss summer treat.Sparkling juice. With temperatures climbing to record highs, turn up the cool with a little sparkle in your juice. JoyfulHomemaking shares a simple recipe: Pour a container of your favorite juice concentrate into a pitcher and add as much chilled seltzer as you would regular water.

Related: Best inexpensive blenders

No-cooking chopped salad. We were inspired by SmittenKitchen's recipe for a chopped salad using feta cheese, lime, and fresh mint. The cooking blog instructs home chefs to mix 3 cups of chopped vegetables (suggestions include radishes, cucumbers, cooked but still crunchy green beans), 1/2 cup of crumbled feta, 2 sliced scallions, about 2 tablespoons of chopped mint, and 1/3 cup toasted sunflower seeds. Separately, whisk 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of

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By Kym Pham, Cheapism.com

Sometimes, summer means skipping out on grocery shopping day because the beach or a walk outside plead for your attention. And, well, you can always fall back on your pantry to concoct a cheap summer meal.

Quick and easy meal ideas for busy summer days.

This, of course, requires a well-stocked pantry. With budget-friendly staples in hand, you've got the foundation for a variety of cheap summer meals and a strategy for keeping your grocery bills in check.

Related: Cookware set reviews

Here's what you need to get started: sea salt, black peppercorns, olive oil, chicken bouillon, dried pasta, cooking wine, vinegar, herbs and spices, assortment of nuts, cans of diced tomatoes. Items to store in the fridge include garlic, lemon, and parmesan cheese.

Try spicing up your cooking repertoire with the following three recipes. Each uses some of the above ingredients, makes enough for two, and costs less than $3.

Related: Best inexpensive white wines

1. Lemon Garlic Pasta
Inspired by

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By Kym Pham, Cheapism.com

Many summer blockbusters just beg to be seen on the big screen (ahem, "Magic Mike"). But with ticket and concession prices so high, going out to the movies adds up quickly. These days, good budget Blu-ray players go for less than $150, making home viewing an enticing alternative. If you're willing to wait a few months for the Blu-ray release, you can ogle Channing Tatum in high-definition whenever you like.

Related: Best budget blu-ray players

See below for a preview of Cheapism's top picks for affordable Blu-ray players.

Panasonic DMP-BDT220The Panasonic DMP-BDT220 (starting at $130) provides outstanding video quality and features, according to expert reviews. In addition to the usual video and audio outputs, USB ports, and internet connectivity, it has an SD card slot for photo slide shows. Like many of the latest budget models, this one can not only play movies but also stream media from Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, YouTube, and Pandora.

LG BP620The LG BP620 (starting

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By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

Blue skies abound, the sun is warm, and the grass is green - and you want to enjoy it with your special someone without busting the summer budget. Don't worry, we've got you covered with these low-cost, romantic summer date ideas.

These summer date ideas are great for couples on a budget.

1. Play in the park. Remember how much fun it was to play in the park when you were a kid? It's still fun for adults and makes for a carefree and cheap summer date. The next time you take out your special someone, hit up the local park and go prepared with games and activities. Items to bring along for the perfect summer date in the park: kite, Frisbee, football, baseball mitts and ball, blanket for lounging, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, and plenty of water.

2. Attend a local fair or festival. Forget the local pub, you can do that in the winter. Instead, head out to the community fair or festival for a merry summer date. Take a spin on cheap rides, play cheap games, sample local foods and drinks, and enjoy

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By Victoria Kichuk, Cheapism.com

Gardening, as a hobby, can be expensive if you're not careful. You start off with a few planters and a rose bush, next thing you know you've got scalloped stone edging, custom trellises, and the finest organic tomato plants money can buy.

Growing your vegetables from seeds will save you money.

But there is another way: Keep your backyard and your wallet full of greenery with these cheap gardening tips.

The key to keeping gardening costs in check means taking a resourceful approach and getting your hands dirty. While your local garden center might carry hundreds of specialty plants, pots, and assorted green-thumb tools, most are unnecessary for a successful garden, particularly when growing vegetables.

Check the dollar store. We've already showcased our deep love for the dollar store in previous posts, but they are a cheap gardening tip not to be overlooked. Dollar Tree and other dollar-store chains often carry a limited selection of seeds, gloves, pots, and other supplies in season. While

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By Elizabeth Sheer, Cheapism.com

Along with summer come all kinds of sensory reminders about the pleasures of outdoor grilling. Staples like hamburgers and hot dogs, prime examples of cheap barbecue meats, are nearly universal on these shores. But that's no reason to limit your options. There are regional preferences worth considering and a wide assortment of relatively inexpensive cuts of meat that can liven up your barbecue feasts.

We spoke with several grilling aficionados and butchers to learn about their favorite cheap barbecue meats and were quickly convinced that delicious outdoor cooking needn't singe your household budget. In fact, some of the best barbecue treats come from cheaper cuts of meat. We've set our sights on beef, poultry, and pork. Generally speaking, lamb and exotic meats like bison and ostrich are way out of our price range.

Related: Best Budget BBQ grills

A bit of clarification is called for here: If you come from the south, you know there's a

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By Raechel Conovoer, Cheapism.com

Right now, your kids are no doubt on cloud nine - school is or just about out for the summer. But in short order, boredom will sink in, and whining, crankiness, and overall dissatisfaction - a major buzz-kill for the whole family - will no doubt follow. To hold boredom at bay, here are some kids' activities for summer that will keep their minds and bodies busy.

Get your kids excited about their summer reading with the Barnes & Noble rewards program.

1. Water play tops the list of fun summer activities for kids. Try these water activities for kids in the summer: organize a water balloon fight; set up the sprinkler so the kids can romp through; tape trash bags together and spray with the hose for a homemade slip n' slide. And don't forget to pull out a water table or kiddie pool for the really little ones. Don't have a water table? Improvise with any large plastic container.

2. Put up a lemonade stand or organize a bake sale. Teach kids about money and responsibility with one of these popular summer activities for kids. Give

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By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

The first day of summer ushered in record temperatures in the Northeast and sweltering weather throughout the country. In this kind of heat, keeping a lid on the air conditioning bill during the summer is a challenge. It's so tempting to just reach for the dial. But before you do, consider these beat-the-summer-heat alternatives.

Creating a breeze with a cheap fan is a frugal alternative to lowering the thermostat.

Keep curtains and shutters closed. During the day this keeps the sun from streaming directly in. If it's still warm, invest in dark or heat-blocking curtains -- a cash outlay, yes, but surely cheaper than several months of steep AC bills.

Related: Cheap air conditioner reviews

Don't leave windows open. Except at night. That's right -- open your windows at night to let in cooler air and shut them first thing in the morning (preferably before the sun comes up) to lock in the cool air and beat the summer heat.

Hang wet sheets in front of windows. Some summer nights just don't cool down and the house still

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