CheapskateMonthly is one of the internet's oldest deal newsletters, founded in 1997. It's been sending deal emails for nearly 30 years, which means it has either perfected the formula or become obsolete.
This review asks the critical question: does a 30-year-old newsletter still deliver value in 2026, or is it a relic of the pre-social-media era?
What CheapskateMonthly Is
CheapskateMonthly (CSM) is a daily email newsletter featuring deals the founder, Mary Hunt, has discovered. The approach is simple: Hunt finds deals, writes about them, and sends them to subscribers once daily.
The newsletter predates SlickDeals, RetailMeNot, and Reddit. It's literally one of the oldest deal sources still operating.
The CheapskateMonthly Model
Unlike DealNews (which aggregates from various sources) or Brad's Deals (which curates), CheapskateMonthly is author-driven. Mary Hunt personally writes about deals she's found or readers have submitted.
This creates a unique dynamic: you're reading deals through one person's perspective, not an algorithm or committee.
CheapskateMonthly Strengths
Long-standing reputation: 30 years of operation means institutional trust. People who've been shopping online since the '90s recognize and trust the brand.
Personal voice: Mary Hunt's writing is engaging and human. Reading deals feels like a friend telling you about bargains she found.
Community contribution: Readers submit deals they've found, creating a community element beyond just Mary's discoveries.
No advertisements in email: Unlike some newsletters that are bloated with ads, CSM keeps the focus on deals.
Free subscription: Completely free, no paywall or premium tier.
Accessible writing style: CSM doesn't use industry jargon or complex language. It's written for regular shoppers, not deal specialists.
Reader-focused: Mary focuses on practical, budget-conscious deals rather than high-end luxury bargains.
CheapskateMonthly Limitations
Infrequent updates: CSM sends one email daily, usually in the afternoon. By the time you read it, deals might be hours old.
Limited deal volume: Unlike DealNews, CSM includes fewer deals per email. You get maybe 3-5 deals per day.
Slower discovery: Mary Hunt isn't constantly monitoring the internet. Fast-breaking lightning deals often miss the newsletter.
Outdated website: The CSM website and email design feel like they haven't been updated in years. The interface is functional but not modern.
Limited retailer focus: While CSM covers multiple retailers, it doesn't have the breadth of DealNews or RetailMeNot.
No real-time notifications: No app, no SMS alerts, no mobile notifications. You read the daily email or miss deals.
Amazon coverage is inconsistent: Some days Amazon deals are featured, other days they're absent.
Community is smaller: Compared to DealNews or Brad's Deals, CSM has fewer subscribers and less community engagement.
Who CheapskateMonthly Actually Serves
CheapskateMonthly works well for:
Budget-conscious shoppers: CSM focuses on finding the cheapest options, not the newest. If you're stretching a tight budget, this perspective helps.
People who like personal curation: If you prefer one trusted voice over algorithmic curation, Mary Hunt's perspective appeals to you.
Casual deal hunters: You're not obsessive about deals. You want one email daily telling you about a few good finds. CSM fits this perfectly.
Readers who value writing: If you like deal discovery mixed with genuine writing and perspective, CSM delivers that.
CheapskateMonthly doesn't serve:
Power deal hunters: You want real-time alerts, not daily emails.
Amazon-specific shoppers: CSM's inconsistent Amazon coverage frustrates focused Amazon shoppers.
Multi-retailer shoppers: If you're comparison shopping across 10 retailers, CSM's limited breadth disappoints.
Mobile-first shoppers: There's no app, no SMS. Email is the only channel.
CheapskateMonthly vs. Modern Alternatives
vs. Juicer.deals: Juicer is real-time and Amazon-focused. CSM is daily and broad. Different purposes.
vs. DealNews: DealNews has more deals per email and broader coverage. CSM is more personal and slower.
vs. Brad's Deals: Both curate quality. Brad's Deals includes Amazon more frequently. CSM is older and slower.
vs. Reddit: Reddit is real-time and community-driven. CSM is authored and daily.
vs. SlickDeals: SlickDeals is real-time and community-voted. CSM is one person's perspective daily.
In the modern deal landscape, CheapskateMonthly occupies a small niche. It's for people who prefer traditional email newsletters over real-time platforms.
The Real Assessment
CheapskateMonthly is useful but not essential.
If you're building a comprehensive deal-hunting toolkit, CSM is worth trying as a supplement. It might surface deals other platforms miss simply because Mary Hunt has been doing this for 30 years and knows where to look.
But if you're choosing between CSM and DealNews, Brad's Deals, or Juicer.deals, the newer platforms are more efficient.
Subscribe to CheapskateMonthly if:
- You want one daily email with curated deals
- You appreciate personal writing and perspective
- You prefer established brands with decades of history
- You like the idea of community-submitted deals
- You're not in a rush to catch deals before they sell out
Skip CheapskateMonthly if:
- You want real-time alerts
- You primarily shop Amazon
- You prefer algorithmic curation over personal selection
- You want a modern interface and mobile app
- You want deals posted within minutes of breaking
How to Use CheapskateMonthly Effectively
If you do subscribe, treat it as a supplement, not your primary deal source:
- Check the daily email in the afternoon when it arrives
- Note interesting deals and research them on Juicer.deals or CamelCamelCamel
- Don't expect to catch fast-breaking lightning deals
- Use it for discovering less-publicized deals that other platforms haven't covered
- Combine with real-time tools like Juicer.deals Chrome Extension for comprehensive coverage
The Verdict
CheapskateMonthly is a legitimate deal newsletter, but it's not a primary tool anymore. In 1997, it was the best deal source available. In 2026, better alternatives exist.
That said, there's value in a 30-year-old newsletter curated by someone who's been hunting deals since before the internet. Sometimes the oldest tool is still useful.
Think of CheapskateMonthly as a supplement: layer it on top of Juicer.deals, Reddit, and your favorite price-tracking tool.
Personal Email Newsletters: When They Matter
CheapskateMonthly represents a category: personally-curated newsletters from an individual. This model has specific advantages:
Advantages:
- Personal perspective adds credibility
- Long-term readers trust the curator's judgment
- Writing style feels like a friend sharing tips
- Filtering happens through one person's values
Disadvantages:
- Scalability issues (one person can only cover so much)
- Vacations/illness halt publication
- Succession concerns (what happens if the founder retires?)
- Limited infrastructure for advanced features
For newsletters to work long-term, they need either:
- A large team (DealNews, Brad's Deals)
- A passionate founding community (Reddit deal subs)
- Algorithmic curation (Juicer.deals)
Single-person operations struggle to scale, which limits their long-term viability.
Building Your Complete Deal-Hunting Stack
For comprehensive deal coverage:
- Real-time discovery: Juicer.deals Chrome Extension (Amazon-specific, real-time)
- Community deals: Reddit (r/deals, r/amazoncoupons)
- Curated newsletter: Brad's Deals (higher quality)
- Daily email: DealNews (broader coverage)
- Alternative perspective: CheapskateMonthly (personal curation, historical lens)
- Price tracking: CamelCamelCamel or Keepa
- Cashback: Honey or Rakuten
This stack covers all deal types and discovery methods.
The 80/20 approach: Use Juicer.deals (80% of your deal discovery) plus one newsletter (20% for perspective and secondary deals).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is CheapskateMonthly free?
A: Yes, completely free. The email list is the entire business model.
Q: How often does CheapskateMonthly send emails?
A: Once daily, usually in the afternoon.
Q: Does Mary Hunt really write every email?
A: Mary writes or heavily edits every email. It's her voice throughout.
Q: Can I submit deals to CheapskateMonthly?
A: Yes, readers submit deals that get included. Submitted deals appear alongside Mary's picks.
Q: Is CheapskateMonthly specifically for Amazon deals?
A: No, it covers all retailers. Amazon deals appear sometimes but aren't prioritized.
Q: How does CheapskateMonthly compare to DealNews?
A: DealNews has more deals per email. CSM is more personal. DealNews is broader, CSM is curated by one person.
Q: Should I use CheapskateMonthly instead of real-time tools?
A: No, use it as a supplement. Real-time tools are faster.
Q: Is the CheapskateMonthly website useful?
A: It's functional but outdated. Use it to browse the archive or submit deals, but the email is the primary value.
---
About the Author: Netzah Elad Topaz is a consumer technology writer and deal-hunting strategy expert. He helps online shoppers save money through smart tool selection and strategy optimization, and currently serves as a contributing analyst for Juicer.deals' product development.
