Blog Posts by Cheapism.com

By Alyssa Goldman, Cheapism.com

Long winter weekends will be with us for a while. We're surrounded by kids, responsible for keeping them entertained, and it seems like there's nothing to do. But wait … We found six fun and cheap indoor winter activities that keep them occupied and stave off boredom.

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1. Get crafty. Take out the markers, colored pencils, paint, scissors, glue, paper, pipe cleaners etc. and let imaginations run wild. Art is one cheap indoor activity where there are no rules. Whether your kids create a personalized snowflake or build a home out of Popsicle sticks, emphasize that creativity is key.
   
   
2. Play with your food. Bring arts and crafts into the kitchen with recipes from Parenting. Create a ladybug out of vegetables with a cherry tomato, cucumber, low-fat cream cheese, black olives, chive stems, and carrots. And after the kids prepare various creations, you won't have to worry about making lunch the rest of the week.

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

It's the New Year and a chance for a new you - all without spending loads of cash. Instead of investing in a hefty new gym fee, try working out on your own with the help of some handy free fitness apps. We scoured the web and came up with our top five favorite fitness apps to help get your new year's resolution off on the right foot.

Get into shape with these five cheap fitness apps.

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1. Runtastic. Primarily a running app but also good for biking and other indoor/outdoor distance activities, this fitness app has a built-in GPS that tracks your route and progress along the way. You'll get read-outs for distance, time, speed, pace, calories burned, and more. The popular running app makes it especially easy to analyze your progress daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, and to share those results with others.
Pros and Cons: Blackberry users who reviewed Runtastic at the Blackberry App World store say it's very useful for serious training and several claim

By Elizabeth Sheer, Cheapism.com

Each year about one-third of American adults resolve to make their lives better in some way. For smokers, that often means a pledge to kick the habit. The benefits of quitting smoking are obvious: It's the best thing you can do for your health and for your budget. And with less tolerance for smoking all around, saying "no" could improve your social life, as well.

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Many would-be ex-smokers fail to quit smoking because it's hard to do. Quitnet reports that it takes seven tries, on average, for someone to successfully quit smoking. So make 2013 the year you pledge to give it up forever. And if you need an extra nudge, note that some of the best techniques for reaching this goal are absolutely free.

Quit smoking now with these frugal tips.

For starters, have you ever figured out just what this habit costs? A quick calculation at Quitnet, which entails entering your zip code and the number of cigarettes you smoke daily, tells you exactly how much of

By Teal Pelish, Cheapism.com

It's only the beginning of January, but cold and flu season came on early and is shaping up to be one of the most severe in recent years. Doctor's visits for fevers, coughs, and sore throats have spiked in the past several weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A particularly virulent cold can lead to missed work, health insurance copays, and other costs. Ward off potential illness with these common cold remedies and preventive tips.

Protect yourself from the common cold.

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Common Cold Remedies: The First Line of Defense. Stopping a cold in its tracks averts harm to both your body and your budget. Arm yourself with simple, affordable or even free remedies the moment that fatigue, congestion, and other symptoms begin to surface.

A fever or runny nose robs the body of water, so drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Avoid mild diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol. The staff at Mayo Clinic recommends water,

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

New year, maybe new job? If you're on the hunt for a job, you need a resume. Perhaps you're wondering how to improve one that already exists. Perhaps you don't have a resume and need to create one. You have two options: You can send your credentials off to a resume writing service and pay big bucks -- figure on at least $100 -- or you can do some research and tackle the job yourself -- for free. Frugal consumers will clearly opt for the latter.

Landing a great job starts with a well written resume.

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Here are some tips to help you write a resume that could put you in the running for that next big employment opportunity.

Remember the basics. It's truly amazing how many people forget to include the easy stuff when they write a resume. Don't, under any circumstance, send a resume without including your name, address, phone number, and email. And place this vital information at the top of the page where it won't be missed.

Rethink your objective statement. The

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

Hopefully by now you've had a chance to unwind a bit from the holidays and get back into the old routine. But if you haven't enjoyed enough R&R you may be ready to plan your next trip. Whether you're in the mood for a sandy beach or a powdery snow-covered mountain, there are a couple of three-day weekends in January and February to take advantage of. But what about getting to the destination? If you're booking flights in January or February, here's what you need to know.

Fly away on a holiday. ...

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Many flights in January will, on average, be cheaper than those for the busy travel days surrounding Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. But the first few months of the year are especially cold in most of the country and travelers often look for any excuse to get away. This may be old news to some, but the general rules are worth restating: Book flights 21 days before travel for the best deals; the best time to book flights is around 3

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

Have you vowed to begin or ramp up a yoga practice in 2013? With a reputation for enhancing flexibility, strength, and mental well-being, yoga no doubt earns a spot on many lists of New Year's resolutions. If sticking to a budget also appears on your list, you may worry about the costs associated with yoga classes and clothing. Cheapism has found that such expenses needn't deter would-be yogis. Mass-market retailers have clued into the widespread popularity of yoga and become reliable sources of inexpensive apparel. Consumers shopping on a budget certainly must be wary of low-quality items that may fit poorly or fall apart in the wash. Cheapism has put together an outfit from pieces that wearers have found both comfortable and durable. The total price: less than $25.

Stretch with cheap yoga clothes!

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• Old Navy fold-over yoga pants (starting at $11.50) are on sale now in several colors. They're available in three different lengths --

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

They say dogs are man's best friend, but taking a stroll down the pet-food aisle makes it clear that cats are equally esteemed companions. From home-style turkey dinner with brown rice and garden greens to a grilled chicken and beef feast in gravy, owners treat their pets to feline cuisine with descriptions that could make a human mouth water. The low-cost cat foods below will provide your cat a nutritious meal and leave you with enough dough for a nice dinner for yourself.

Cats can love cheap cat food!

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• Trader Joe's Premium canned cat food (starting at 69 cents per 5.5-ounce can) contains no byproducts and represents an excellent value for consumers with an outpost of the specialty grocery chain nearby. Reviews posted online reveal that customers find the quality particularly impressive considering the low price point. Cats are reportedly pleased as well, enjoying the texture and three flavors: chicken, tuna, and turkey.
• Purina