“People assume that the locks sold to the general public are secure. A lot of times, when the label says ‘fortress’ or ‘faultless’ or ‘defiant,’ they’re easy to pick, and the strength of the bolt isn’t very strong. The bottom line is, you get what you pay for.”
Real Estate & Homes
Houseplants So Low Maintenance Even You (Probably) Won’t Kill Them
Who needs a high-maintenance houseplant? If you’re going through the trouble of decorating your home with some greenery, it makes sense to buy something that’ll last—even if your home is as dark as a basement, your ability to remember to water is nearly nonexistent, and your thumbs aren’t remotely green.
Renew Your Lease, Get Flat-Screen TVs and Cash from Your Landlord
Landlords, desperate to hang onto tenants, are offering primo incentives to get renters to re-up their leases.
Ten Signs that the Economy Is Still in Awful Shape
News is out: The economy grew in the third quarter. But don’t start the celebratory parade just yet.
Maximizing Your Halloween Candy Haul with Zillow
The real-estate site Zillow has created a trick-or-treat index. Factoring in data like home values, population density, walkability, and safety, the site tells trick-or-treaters what neighborhoods give the best chances of bringing home enough candy to scare any dentist silly.
Q&A with the IKEAhacker
Following the directions to put together a piece of IKEA furniture is so pedestrian. Sure, it’ll be cheap and functional, but where’s the challenge? And where’s the creativity? The Cheapskate Blog chats with the author of blog where people explain how they transformed IKEA products into things you’d never find in the catalogue—like, …
Pimp My Pumpkin: Halloween Decorating on the Cheap
It’s not like carving a Jack-o-Lantern is all that pricey an endeavor. But in a season when folks are spending less on Halloween candy and seem especially keen on cheap and easy costumes, all tips for inexpensive decorating are welcome.
Hey Joel Stein, Where Are My Trojkas?
Time columnist Joel Stein asked The Cheapskate Blog for tips on living cheaply for a week—and then fell victim to a classic blunder, right up there with being suckered into buying stuff online because of a free shipping promotion and getting involved in a land war in Asia.
Ten Bizarre Theories on Saving and Spending
Poker teaches important lessons about saving and investing. Foreclosures are better than mortgage modification programs. Debit card overdraft fees are good for consumers. PMS is responsible for impulse purchases. There is no shortage of strange theories out there—and some of them are actually plausible.
No More Real Estate Agent Fees. No More Dry Cleaning Bills. No More Charges for Pest Exterminators.
Among a certain group of consumers, it’s becoming a DIY world. To save money, they’re reevaluating many of the services the rest of the world has grown accustomed to paying.
Are You Stupid to Trust SmartMeters, Unit Prices, and Energy Star Labels?
The Energy Department admits it doesn’t properly track how and when manufacturers put Energy Star labels on products. The labels’ ratings, which are supposed to indicate a product’s energy efficiency, were “not accurate or verifiable,” according to the agency. In other words, products that are supposed to save you money, and that are …
Don’t Even Think About Letting Mother Nature Dry Your Clothes
Everyone is in favor of practices that save money and are good for the environment, right? Actually, no. Turns out your neighbors may not approve.