Blog Posts by Cheapism.com

by Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com

One way to make a lasting impression on your house guests is with a laser-like focus on improving the outside of the house. Whether your home needs a quick pick-me-up in time for spring or a more dramatic improvement to compete in a buyer's market, try these quick and low-cost outdoor home improvement fixes. A complete exterior overhaul can cost thousands of dollars, but these five cheap home improvement ideas can make a big impact on a small budget.

Mow the lawn for sight and smell. An overgrown lawn is the equivalent of a bad haircut. One of the cheapest but most critical home improvement fixes involves cleaning up the lawn. Brighten up guests' perceptions of your home by cutting the grass, cleaning up paths or walkways, clearing the lawn of clutter, and trimming the bushes. The scent of fresh-cut grass is a bonus, especially if you're trying to sell your house. For most people, the sweet smell reminds them of summer and home, but to buyers, it's

By Richard Moy, Cheapism.com

Quality espresso machines under $200For many coffee aficionados, it's easier to hand over a few dollars for an espresso from a favorite shop than to shell out a few hundred dollars for a home machine. However, you can find semi-automatic espresso makers that are not only priced around $100 or $200 but also earn kudos for user-friendliness, even from consumers daunted by the idea of operating one. If you get your daily fix from a coffee-shop cappuccino or latte, an affordable home espresso machine can start saving you cash within months.

Related: Rice Cooker Reviews

Here are Cheapism's top picks among home espresso machines for consumers on a budget:

• The DeLonghi EC155 comes equipped with a stainless-steel boiler and a swiveling milk frother for making espresso drinks. Buyers of this machine rave about its speed and reliability in online reviews, especially given its $80 price point.
  
  
• The Nespresso Citiz C110 stands out among semi-automatic machines because it's so easy to use and

by Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com

If longer days and diet program ads are any clue, swimsuit season is quickly approaching. Toss out your old sun-beaten, pool-weathered bathing suit and prepare for a new season of pool parties and beach vacations with a new bikini. We updated our 2011 list of the best places to buy cheap bikinis and swimsuits for summer 2012. While the best time to buy swimwear is usually towards the end of summer, these swimsuit shops are selling bikinis cheap enough that you won't want to wait. And with such appealing designs, you might find yourself shopping for a few different swimsuits.

Old Navy. For an affordable selection of figure-flattering bikini styles, check out Old Navy's cheap swimwear for women. Both the e-commerce site and brick-and-mortar stores offer swimsuit styles ranging from the classic string bikini to fashionable decorated designs. Build your own bikini with $10 mix-and-match tops and bottoms, including this trendy Missoni-esque printed

by Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com

City living has its perks, but a backyard garden is usually not one of them. Urbanites can still reap the benefits of cheap gardening and growing their own food by knowing the best plants for apartments and small spaces. Avoid having to buy expensive organic produce or fresh flowers by purchasing cheap seeds instead.

Start by finding a container for your plant or container garden. No need to shell out for fancy stone pots or stained wood planters. Clay and terra-cotta containers are cheap yet look elegant. Any container can become a flowerpot. A coffee can is the perfect size for growing herbs and can be disguised and decorated. Kitty litter tubs, wooden pallets, old toolboxes, and even vintage tea kettles can be used as unique and cheap plant containers.
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Related: Best Cheap Grills for Summer BBQ

Next, figure out what grows best in your space. If all you have is a ...

By Elizabeth Sheer, Cheapism.com

While single-estate coffee beans and cold-brewed coffee may be all the rage in coffee culture, frequenting your local hipster haunt gets expensive pretty quickly. The alternative, of course, is brewing in the comfort of your own kitchen. Whether you choose to grind the beans yourself or prefer the convenience of pre-ground coffee, you can enjoy a high-quality cup o' joe without the lines or the coffee shop markup.

Related: Best cheap coffee makers

We invited a panel of tasters to sample some of the best-rated cheap coffees, each bearing a price between 11 cents and 22 cents a cup.

Folgers Black Silk is the darkest roast in the brand's lineup. Online reviewers have noted that its flavor is dark and rich without tasting burnt or bitter and that the coffee taste comes through even after milk and sugar are added. Our tasting panel agreed that Folgers has a "rich coffee aroma in the can" and tastes "bold" and "strong, but not too strong." With

www.morguefile.com/graceyBy Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com

Redoing a kitchen can be so daunting that you might be tempted to open your outdated freezer and indulge in a pint of calorie-laden gourmet ice cream. Even a minor kitchen remodel (giving walls and cabinets a facelift, replacing countertops and flooring, and installing a new sink and energy-efficient appliances) costs an average of $19,588, according to Remodeling magazine's annual Cost vs. Value Report. But such an undertaking also delivers one of the highest returns of any home project -- about 72% of the cost is recouped on resale -- and there are plenty of places to trim the bill. One of them involves the range (i.e., the stove).

Related: Best Budget Dishwashers

Here are Cheapism's picks for the best ranges on a budget:

• The GE JBS55DM electric range features a smooth cooktop surface and an extra-large oven, packing a wealth of features into a starting price of $495. Reviewers laud the cooktop's ease of cleaning and aesthetics, as well as

By Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com

With all the coupon and daily deal sites sprouting up these days, Cheapism updated its roundup of the best coupon sites for 2012. Fight the flood of emails and discover discount codes that actually work, saving you time, energy, and, of course, money.

Best Coupon Sites.
Coupons.com: This perennial favorite earned a spot on our previous list of the best coupon sites. The coupon pioneer remains a top pick this year because of its selection. As one of the biggest sources of online coupons, it feeds into many affiliates and other coupon sites. Coupons.com is especially useful for grocery trips. Search, "clip," and print coupons before going shopping.
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Related: Best Cheap Multifunction Printers (to print your coupons)

Money Saving Mom: The recipes and frugal-living blog on this site are just extras on top of a comprehensive coupon database, which also makes our list of the top coupon sites for a second time. Sort coupons by retailer, item, or

morguefile.com/phaewilkBy Jane Magaro and Kara Reinhardt, Cheapism.com

After a long search for a bridal gown, seeing yourself in the perfect wedding dress may make you gasp -- at the price tag. Brides spent an average of about $1,121 on their wedding dresses in 2011, according to a survey by TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com. Given that a designer dress can easily shatter a wedding budget, many smart brides-to-be bypass bridal salons and head to department stores and other mass-market retailers for breathtaking gowns at a fraction of the price.

Here are Cheapism's top picks for beautiful wedding dresses on a budget.

• J. Crew wedding dresses (starting at $298) have the sophisticated design aesthetic of the brand's clothing, and reviews praise the quality. Brides can browse nearly 60 dresses by silhouette online and choose from myriad fabrics and feels. Some brick-and-mortar stores carry the wedding collection, so check the store locator to see where you can try dresses on.
• Nordstrom