Blog Posts by Cheapism.com

By Alyssa Goldman, Cheapism.com

Remember when you cut coupons from the Sunday newspaper in order to cut your grocery bill? That chore is a relic of the past now that technology has revolutionized the coupon-clipping game. The current generation of mobile apps and grocery websites not only saves you money, but also helps you earn cash back.

Related: What's the Best Free Tax Preparation Software?

Following is a list of free, must-have mobile coupon apps you should download ASAP and two grocery websites to add to your favorites.

Use coupon apps to save money on your grocery bill!

ibotta and Endorse. Both of these free mobile coupon apps work with Android, iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad devices. These apps turn smart phones into the ultimate tool for collecting on cash-back opportunities. ibotta and Endorse let users upload grocery receipts for return cash thatgoes directly into your PayPal account or can be donated to a U.S. school. With both mobile coupon apps you'll receive personalized product deals based on past

By Alyssa Goldman, Cheapism.com

This is a myth: The quest for cheap organic food is a lost cause. This is a fact: There are many ways to save when buying organic food. Here are six tips.

Prioritize your spending. Consult the Environmental Working Group's "Dirty Dozen Plus" list of 14 fruits and vegetables containing the highest levels of pesticide residues before running to the organic grocery aisle. Limit your organic purchases to apples, celery, sweet bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, imported nectarines, grapes, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, domestic blueberries, potatoes, green beans, and kale/collard greens.

Related: Top inexpensive refrigerators

There are many options for cheap organic food.

Buy the store brand, shop at warehouse clubs. Yes, even grocers (including Safeway, Kroger, and Target) sell their own line of relatively cheap organic food. If you go to a warehouse club, such as Costco, you can purchase organic products in bulk. Buying the house brand rather than the name brand also nets big savings.

By Alyssa Goldman, Cheapism.com

Nearly everybody enjoys traveling. But the planning and spending? Not so much.

As the saying goes, there's an app for that. In fact, there are several free travel apps for iPhones, iPads, and Androids that will save you time and money. An added bonus: You won't look like such a tourist.

A dream vacation is only an app away.

Related: What are the best cheap airlines

Hotel Tonight: Go-to app for a last-minute hotel room. Say you decide to take an impromptu road trip but neglected to book a hotel room. Hotel Tonight has you covered. While last minute room reservations usually mean higher rates, this free travel app guarantees the complete opposite -- book a room the same day and save up to 70 percent on the hotel's usual prices.

With 4.5 stars on iTunes and 4.4 stars on Google Play, this app upends the usual "too good to be true" adage. One Android user had her doubts but became a believer after booking a room in a Harrah's Hotel in Reno, NV for $34 for the night. Note,

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

Congratulations, you're getting married! Now hand over the credit card. Seriously. USA Today reports that last year the average couple spent $26,989 on their wedding, and that's down from the $28,082 mark in 2008. But there's no reason to take on massive amounts of debt as you begin your life together. Wedding budgets can be kept to a minimum with some help from wedding websites and wedding apps.

Related: Our smartphones buying guide

For starters, there are three easy ways to cut costs and stay within your wedding budget. Catey Hill, author of Shoo, Jimmy Choo! The Modern Girl's Guide to Spending Less and Saving More, suggests these:

1. Limit the guest list. The biggest cost factor is the number of guests. If you haven't already mailed out invitations, Hill says, "think long and hard about who you really want to invite and who you can cut." Make an A list with definite people to invite and a B list with people to invite only if the wedding

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

We haven't hit the mad scramble that comes during the second week of April, but taxes are already on peoples' minds. Perhaps you've gotten a W-2 or 1099 and put it away for "later." If you're thinking about handing off those documents to a tax professional, you may wind up spending more than necessary. Many taxpayers with straightforward returns can use free online software to prepare and electronically file federal taxes for free and state taxes for less than $20. Compare that to $80 for a popular software package or well over $100 for professional tax preparation at a brick-and-mortar location.

Don't be late for tax filing!

Related: Our inexpensive laptops buying guide

Here are Cheapism's top picks for free online tax software:

• TaxAct ($14.95 for state returns) can hold its own when compared with better-known competitors TurboTax and H&R Block, according to expert reviewers. The company provides not only online tax prep but also downloadable software and CDs.

By Teal Pelish, Cheapism.com

Wintery weather may linger for a while in many parts of the country but spring is just around the corner. Now's the perfect moment to look for spring break deals. Fox News notes that "smartcations" are more in vogue this year than "staycations," the epitome of cheap spring breaks. Here are a few pointers to get you started.

Whisk away to a Caribbean getaway.

Related: What are the best cheap airlines?

Home in on Package Deals. What exactly is a smartcation? A string of deals patched together that dramatically cut the overall cost. Spring break deals apply to a variety of locales and come in an array of durations, opening up the possibility for creative and cheap spring break plans. Deal sites such as Groupon and Living Social offer an abundance of every type of vacation scenario imaginable, from Caribbean island getaway packages and wellness and weight-loss spas to fun-filled family vacation deals, to name a few. Pick a trip location and grab additional discounts on hotels,

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

It may be old news, but the end of the payroll tax holiday is an ongoing reality that affects everyone's paycheck. For an individual earning $50,000 a year, the two percent increase amounts to an extra $1,000 in taxes annually, the equivalent of $83.33 a month or $2.74 a day. For many taxpayers, that's enough to affect daily life. If you've had a little trouble adjusting to the 2013 tax increase, perhaps we can help you out.

These helpful tips can lower your tax woes.

Related: Our cheap tablets buying guide

The first and most commonly cited suggestion: Eliminate that expensive coffee habit. But anyone who enjoys a good cup o' Joe already knows the price and has decided it's well worth the cost. Indeed, there are certainly easier and more productive ways to offset the sting of the 2013 tax increase.

Start by looking at your basic monthly expenses, including mortgage or rent payments, cell phone bills, Internet and/or cable service, and the insurance policies you hold. These

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

Planning and timing is everything, especially for frugal consumers who need to make a big purchase. Knowing the best time to buy something -- from cars and houses to televisions and appliances -- goes a long way toward saving big bucks.

Related: What are the top inexpensive digital cameras?

The best time to buy a big-ticket item is usually when a newer model is introduced. For example, new furniture styles are released twice a year, so the best time to buy furniture is the month before the new products hit the stores. Season's end is also an excellent buying time. Consider lawn mowers, which are best bought in August and September when winter is on its way and the grass won't need mowing until spring.

Note, though, that following the best-time-to-buy rules to get the best bargains means you must be prepared to sacrifice. In other words, forget about having the latest and greatest new model. Older models -- typically equal in quality