Blog Posts by Cheapism.com

By Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com
Whether you're driving, working, cooking, or pushing a shopping cart, you can still make plans, organize kids, or catch up with friends using a wireless headset for your mobile phone. Bluetooth technology uses low-frequency radio waves to transmit data from your handset to the headset, letting you talk even when your hands are busy. This is especially useful if you spend a lot of time stuck in traffic in a state that outlaws cell phones on the road. A Bluetooth headset can help you reclaim that lost time. While high-end models cost around $150, you can find a comfortable headset with excellent sound quality for less than $50.

Below are Cheapism's top recommendations for affordable Bluetooth headsets:

• At only 9 grams, the Motorola HX550 is comfortable enough to wear on road trips, users say, so you can keep it on all day. Reviewers rave about the clarity of the sound on both ends of the line. The headset boasts 9 hours of talk time and 16 days of

Read More »from Multitasking on the Cheap - the Best Budget Bluetooth Headsets

By Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com

How many times have you spent part of a Saturday in front of HGTV or Million Dollar Decorators, rather than redo your bathroom or even spruce up your walls with a new paint color? Rather than wait till you can afford to hire Martyn Lawrence Bullard or Kathryn Ireland, take a look at two other big names in home renovation: Lowe's and Home Depot. Cheapism sent a researcher to branches of both stores to find out which one deserves your DIY dollars. She compared prices, selection, customer service, and other features, and concluded that overall Lowe's is the best place to tackle your spring projects. The competition was stiff, however, so read on to find out which store might best suit your needs.

The aisles at Lowe's were easier to navigate.

Related: Lowe's vs. Home Depot

Prices

To compare prices, Cheapism took a shopping list of 39 items to outposts of both hardware giants. The totals amounted to nearly $2,000 but differed by a mere $1.27. The Lowe's-Home Depot price

Read More »from Home Depot Vs. Lowe’s: Who Wins the DIY Wars?

by Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com

On prom night, you can look like a million bucks but spend just a fraction of that amount by scoring a stylish but cheap prom dress for less than $100. Whether your style is edgy modern or evening elegant, snagging the perfect dress at a bargain price is easy with Cheapism's list of the best places to find cheap prom dresses.

Online stores. If you're shopping online, surf right past the online sites of major, brick-and-mortar clothing stores and check out the sites of smaller fashion retailers like ASOS and Modcloth. Fashionistas flock to the UK-based ASOS for cutting-edge street style, and its hundreds of affordable dresses run the gamut from racy to ruffled. The retailer sells dresses from its house label as well as other designers, such as this black evening dress from Reverse with a hi-lo hemline.

Related: Best Cheap Mascara

For girls looking for vintage-inspired or indie prom dresses, Modcloth's prom dresses are incredibly cute and

Read More »from Prom 2012: The Best Places to Find Affordable Prom Dresses

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

With global warming a growing threat, there's lots of talk about energy-efficient products -- a boon for the environment and your wallet. Yes, there's an initial upfront cost with these products that often pushes them beyond the cheap zone, but in the long run energy-efficient products will help you save money. You don't need to go crazy with a complicated solar thermal system for water, space heating, and cooling or with grid-tied solar electric to have an energy efficient home. There are plenty of ways to keep it simple and still enjoy the rewards. Below are some tips for how to lighten your carbon footprint and your utility bills.

Energy Star Rating

"Energy Star" and "energy efficient" are the new product buzz words. What do they each signify? Products with an Energy Star label meet certain criteria about energy use established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to EnergyStar.gov, a product earns the Energy StarRead More »from Save Money with Energy-Efficient Products

morguefile.com/procrastinator

By Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com

This summer, take vacation photos worth showing off to family, friends, and the Facebook universe with a serious camera - a DSLR. Yes, these are the "big" cameras with large interchangeable lenses that you see swinging from the necks of amateur and professional photographers alike. More technically, DSLR stands for "digital single-lens reflex," so-called because the camera uses a mirror/viewfinder setup to let you see your subject directly through the lens and compose your photo.

If you're ready to graduate from your point-and-shoot digital camera to more manual control and versatility, a DSLR camera is a fine choice. Cheapism analyzed reviews of popular DSLR models to find the best budget DLSR cameras on the market. Below are our top recommendations for affordable DSLR cameras:

• The Canon EOS Rebel T3, one of Canon's recent entry-level DSLRs, starts at $499. Experts and consumers rave about the outstanding image quality for the price. The

Read More »from Best Rated Budget DSLR Cameras

By Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com

As the cost and hassles of air travel continue to escalate, we looked into cheap bus fare as an alternative way to travel.

Major carriers typically offer discounts simply by booking ahead. Go directly to Greyhound, for example, for 10% off tickets purchased a week in advance, and 25% off purchases made two weeks ahead. If you're traveling with friends or family you can get up to 50% off tickets for your companion purchased at least three days in advance. Greyhound also offers web only cheap bus fares. It might be worthwhile to search for the bus company name or route with keywords like "coupons", "discounts" etc. to learn about the deals and reduced prices.

Related: Best Cheap Car Rentals

If these price cuts aren't steep enough for your liking, there's always the route that runs through discount bus companies straight to a dirt cheap bus fare. Megabus is a budget carrier that offers some of the cheapest bus fares around -- trips between

Read More »from Plan a Frugal Getaway with Cheap Bus Tickets

By Contributing Author, Cheapism.com

If you've ever seen the MTV show My Super Sweet 16, then you know about the parents who spare no expense to indulge their child's every desire for one birthday party extravaganza. And judging from our research, this kind of out-of-control spending doesn't break out just for the Sweet 16, but for every birthday party leading up to it. Yep, we read about a themed birthday party for a child turning five that included pony rides, a rented merry-go-round, giant inflatables, hired magicians, and, well, more, for a total cost that reached upwards of $6,000. Umm, as frugal consumers, we'll pass.

If you're one of those parents who aren't interested in keeping up with the Joneses, spoiling your children, or frittering away a good portion of your life savings, here are some ways to reign in the cost of a kids birthday party.

1. Set a budget and stick to it. It's always a good idea to set a budget for any event, but a kids birthday party can easily Read More »from 10 Ways to Save on Kids' Birthday Parties

morguefile.com/ScarabBy Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com

The wreck of the Costa Concordia, among other recent incidents, has sent the entire cruise industry into a slump. Bookings are down not only at Carnival Corp., Costa Cruises' parent company, but also at Royal Caribbean, the Associated Press reports. Cruise lines that had hoped to raise prices during this peak season, after dropping them because of the recession, appear to be discounting instead.

Cheapism researched various cruise lines to find the best affordable cruises, based on analysis of reviews by passengers and industry experts, as well as a comparison of accommodations and other features. Cheapism's top picks sail to the Bahamas out of Miami starting at less than $50 per person per night.

• Norwegian Sky cruises are three- and four-night trips starting at a low price of $42 per night. The ship may appeal especially to youthful travelers with its casual atmosphere, abundant nightlife, and flexible dining options. The route includes

Read More »from Sail Away: Best Cruises Under $50 a Night