Commerce Guidelines and Mission
At Cheapism, we're dedicated to improving the lives of our readers by confronting their financial pain points and providing them with practical and innovative solutions. This includes reviewing products and services that we think will make our readers' lives simpler and more economical (as well as sparking just a little bit of joy).
How We Test & Review Products & Services
The bulk of the products and services we recommend are tried and tested at home by our team of writers and editors. Readers can count on finding some combination of the following in our reviews:
- what we liked and didn't like about the product/service
- pros and cons
- a synopsis of online reviews
- budget and upgrade alternatives
- a buying guide (when applicable)
- FAQs
If we haven't physically handled the product or personally experienced a service, we'll always let our readers know. For those reviews, our process involves exhaustive research that includes reading reviews (taking time to weed out fake or paid reviews), and paying close attention to what users say about long-term performance, practical features, and potential flaws. Unlike other review sites, we also aim to recommend products that fall on the inexpensive side of the cost spectrum while still retaining a level of quality that won't result in buyer's remorse or regret.
How We Make Money
We are paid an affiliate commission on some, but not all, of the products and services we recommend on Cheapism.com. We only recommend trusted retailers with a proven track record for good customer service and reliability.
Why You Should Trust Cheapism
When Cheapism recommends a service or product, we are doing so without outside influence. Occasionally we do accept products from brands and PR agencies (and will be transparent about doing so in the reviews of those items), but our opinions are our own. We never accept agency or brand products in exchange for a glowing review.
We are also committed to ensuring that our content reflects the diversity of our readers. We make a point to research brands and products founded by people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, as well as other minority groups whenever possible. Cheapism is also committed to hiring a diverse team of writers and editors.
Safety & Recalls
All products, including those we have reviewed or featured on Cheapism.com, may be subject to recalls. We encourage our readers to heed official announcements from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for the latest information on recalls. We also highly recommend registering purchased products with the manufacturer so that you will receive notice of when a recall is issued.
Meet Our Editorial Team
For more details on our editorial team's experience and expertise, please visit our About Us page.
Max Levitte
Max Levitte is the publisher of Cheapism, which he founded in 2009. Max has spent the last 27 years managing content, traffic, and monetization for internet companies and running large-scale consumer-focused websites. He lives in New York City.
Kris Scott
Kris Scott is the executive editor at Cheapism and has previously covered food, design, and lifestyle. Her work has previously appeared in Food & Nutrition, Modern in Denver, and Dallas-based Advocate Magazines. She lives in Colorado with her family and two heelers.
Danny Jensen
Danny Jensen is a managing editor at Cheapism who has covered food, travel, and more. His work can be found on Thrillist, Time Out, and Travelzoo. He's also the author of three books, including "Los Angeles Scavenger: The Ultimate Search for Los Angeles's Hidden Treasures."
Pat Shrader
Pat Shrader is an assistant managing editor and newsletter editor at Cheapism. He has previously worked as an editor, a webmaster, a copy editor, and a reporter. He lives in Indiana and thinks if a car can’t last 20 years, it’s not worth owning.
Erin Kuschner
Erin Kuschner is a senior editor at Cheapism who has covered travel, food, and lifestyle. She has over a decade of writing and editing experience, and her work has appeared in Time Out, the Los Angeles Times, Eater Austin, the Boston Globe, and other publications. She's based in North Carolina.
Jennifer Magid
Jennifer Magid is a staff writer at Cheapism covering shopping, deals, and pets. Her background includes writing for companies such as Walmart and Neiman Marcus, as well as numerous other websites and publications. She's based in Connecticut with her family and her beloved standard poodle, Moby.
Lacey Muszynski
Lacey Muszynski is a staff writer at Cheapism covering food, travel, and more. She has over 15 years of writing and editing experience, and her restaurant reviews and recipes have previously appeared in Serious Eats, Thrillist, and countless publications in her home state of Wisconsin.
Rachel Schneider
Rachel Schneider is a staff writer at Cheapism covering recipes, internet culture, and how families (especially bigger families) can live sustainably and frugally. She lives on a farm in Michigan with her husband, four kids, and many, many animals.
Maxwell Shukuya
Maxwell Shukuya is a staff writer at Cheapism covering tech, travel, product reviews, and personal finance. Based in California, his work has previously been featured in Capital Public Radio, Submerge Magazine, and City on a Hill Press.
Wilder Shaw
Wilder Shaw is a staff writer at Cheapism covering food, specializing in taste tests and fast food. He has over a decade of food-writing experience, and his work has appeared in Thrillist, The Washington Post, L.A. Taco, Time Out, and numerous other publications.
Liane Starr
Liane Starr is a staff writer at Cheapism covering food, shopping, and personal finance. Liane was previously editor-in-chief of footwear trade WSAToday and a senior editor at HitFix and EW.com. Her TV guidebook, "Stream This Next," was published in 2023.
Alina Wang
Alina Wang is a staff writer at Cheapism covering travel and personal finance. Prior to joining the Cheapism team, Alina worked as a U.S.-based correspondent for Vision Times and interned for several media outlets during college. She currently lives in Colorado.
Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, comments, or opinions you’d like to share with our team, please feel free to email us at info@cheapism.com.
