Blog Posts by Cheapism.com

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

Artist Brendan O'Connell

Walmart and high-priced art aren't often mentioned in the same sentence. But artist Brendan O'Connell turns the Walmart shopping experience into upmarket culture. His paintings, the largest of which fetch about $40,000, often feature the colorful displays, iconic blue-vested employees, and bargain-hunting shoppers at the ubiquitous warehouse store. Interested in how people interact with their environment, O'Connell zoomed in on the grocery store and made Walmart his setting of choice.

Related: Walmart, Target & Kmart showdown

No, O'Connell didn't sit with an easel in the middle of Aisle 5. Rather, beginning in 2003 he traveled the country taking pictures inside Walmart stores and recreating the images on canvas later in his studio. "I was struck by the notion of capturing everyday American life," he told The Boston Globe. "Walmart has replaced the church as the place where people congregate." He counts actor Alec Baldwin among the fans of

By Teal Pelish, Cheapism.com

It's spring cleaning time. Whether DIY or otherwise, everyone seems to have their own preferred methods and magical concoctions. We asked fellow Cheapists for their take on the annual spring rite. Here's their list of spring cleaning tips:

We asked our fellow Cheapists their take on the annual rite.

Related: Best inexpensive vacuum cleaners

Spring Cleaning Checklist. Organization is key to effective and efficient spring cleaning, which makes a complete to-do checklist absolutely essential. Many sites offer helpful ideas, but our followers say that Martha Stewart provides one that's thorough and packed with information.

Spring Cleaning Tips. A thorough cleaning of the entire house may seem overwhelming, but there are ways to get control. One of our Facebook followers advises compartmentalizing; that is, clean one room at a time. Another takes a similar approach and adds a focused methodology. She starts by working ceiling to floor all the way around into the center by wiping, dusting, and

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

National Car Care Month kicked off with a rumble the other day. The designation helps remind drivers to adopt a car care plan and take preemptive measures to maintain their vehicle. Doing so is worth the effort -- and money-saving, to boot. Although new car sales are rising, the Wall Street Journal notes this is due, in part, to the senior status of the American fleet: The average car is 11 years old and a full 20 percent of the cars on the road are 16 years and counting. And as any driver knows, older cars need more care.

April is car care month.

Related: Best inexpensive hybrid cars

If you've never even popped the hood you may not know how to start conceiving a car care plan. It's easy to ignore warning signs unless the check-engine light comes on or you feel a wobble. It's also easy to be proactive. The prescribed car care plan found in the owner's manual indicates what services need to be performed on a regular basis. The Be Car Care Aware website lets drivers

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

Thrift store shopping has always been popular among frugal consumers. But with the economy still lagging, more consumers are finding themselves browsing the thrift shop racks. And the new hit song "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (featuring Wanz) has made thrift store shopping sound, well, cool. So how can you make the most of the thrift store this spring?

Learn tips & tricks for thrift store shopping.

Related: Best cheap smartphone recommendations

No Expectations. The thrift store is the place to update your wardrobe cheaply, regardless of the season. You can browse aisle upon aisle of tops, bottoms, dresses, and more. The best strategy for finding good buys is to approach thrift store shopping without any expectations. That is, don't go with a list or a particular item in mind but with a flexible attitude that lets you browse through everything.

Yes, that means checking out the entire thrift shop for wardrobe updates. There's a very good chance that the store isn't well

By Teal Pelish, Cheapism.com

In seemingly no time at all, another school year will have ended. Non-working students can celebrate the freedom with a do-nothing vacation or an interactive learning experience. With deadlines fast approaching for summer programs and related student travel deals, the time to plan for a cheap student summer trip is now.

Travel abroad this summer.

Related: Top travel sites for bargains

Social Learning Programs & Projects Abroad. Students who revel in learning can use the summer to acquire new skills, learn a foreign language, launch career prep, and/or gain volunteer experience. These trips often carry a nominal cost, but a few actually offer small compensation. More importantly, a cheap student summer trip is a golden opportunity to enhance your résumé and perhaps receive some college credit.

Volunteer opportunities abroad exist even in fields such as law and medicine. Check out options at United Planet and Projects Abroad. Many programs are flexible with dates,

By Alyssa Goldman, Cheapism.com

Meet the "big dog" of price comparison search engines: DugDug, a one-stop source for locating cheap dog supplies, from nail clippers to flea and tick treatment.

The site, officially launched today, breaks the leash of online shopping to focus on the consumer needs of human's best friend. But not to worry, all you feline fanatics -- DugDug plans to dig beyond cheap dog supplies to unearth cheap pet supplies for the likes of cats, fish, reptiles, and, well, you name it. A comparison shopping tool for pet insurance is in the offing, as well.

Use DugDug.com to find the best deals on dog supplies.

Related: Cheap cat food buying guide

As any pet owner knows, being a master is an ongoing cost commitment. According to the American Pet Products Association, annual expenses for a dog or cat easily exceed $1,200. That's a lot of fat to trim.

Almost in a class by itself, DugDug efficiently and effectively points canine owners to the lowest cost products without the annoyances of pop-ups and

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

In a national survey on cloud computing commissioned by Citrix last year, more than a quarter of respondents said they thought "the cloud" had something to do with weather. More than half surmised that storms could interfere with service, while others associated the cloud with drugs, toilet paper, or pillows. For those not in the know, the term refers to a computer network that hosts information remotely and lets users access it from any device with an Internet connection. You may already be using a cloud computing service without realizing it. Perhaps you've collaborated with others on a document or spreadsheet using Google Drive (or its previous incarnation, Google Docs). If you have an Amazon account or an Apple product, you have access to 5GB of complimentary cloud storage.

SkyDrive tops the list of the best free cloud services.

Related: Inexpensive desktop computers

These services let you back up important documents and other files and access them from anywhere, on multiple devices. They

By Teal Pelish, Cheapism.com

Going international can turn an otherwise banal summer vacation into a lifelong memory. But is there such a thing as cheap international travel -- especially in a place like Europe, where the exchange rate hovers around $1.30? Here are some inexpensive ideas for students, couples, and families looking to visit an exotic place on a limited budget.

Opt for a backpacking trip.

Related: Cheap luggage buying guide

Backpacking. For college students and 20-somethings, this method of independent travel is not only an affordable way to see many parts of the world but also a fun way to meet people, especially if you plan to travel solo. Backpackers congregate in hostels, where a dorm bed with a shared bathroom typically costs far less than a hotel room. Visit HostelBookers to read reviews and reserve cheap accommodation with no booking fee.

The classic destination is Western Europe, of course, but consider South America for cheaper international travel. The most affordable