Helping everyday people make smarter financial decisions — without shame, confusion, or financial jargon.

Founded in 2009, Yes I Am Cheap is an award-winning personal finance website dedicated to helping readers take control of their money, reduce debt, build financial confidence, and create long-term financial stability.

What began as a personal journey through debt repayment has grown into a trusted financial education platform reaching readers across the country through practical advice, relatable experiences, and actionable financial guidance.

Today, Yes I Am Cheap covers topics including:

budgeting,
debt payoff,
credit,
saving money,
side hustles,
family finance,
financial wellness,
consumer money news,
and real-world financial strategies for everyday life.

The mission has remained the same from the beginning: making financial education accessible, honest, and realistic for people who may feel overwhelmed, judged, or left behind by traditional financial advice.

The Story Behind the Brand

Yes I Am Cheap was founded by Sandy Smith after experiencing firsthand the challenges of overwhelming debt, financial setbacks, and rebuilding financially after difficult life transitions.

After paying off tens of thousands of dollars in debt, Sandy began documenting the journey online as both a source of accountability and a way to help others facing similar struggles.

Over time, readers connected not only with the financial advice, but with the transparency, practicality, and judgment-free approach that became the foundation of the brand.

What started as a small personal blog evolved into a nationally recognized financial education platform focused on helping real people make meaningful financial progress — one decision at a time.

Award-Winning Financial Education

Over the years, Yes I Am Cheap has been recognized within the financial media industry for its contribution to personal finance education and digital content creation.

The platform has received recognition through the Plutus Foundation and has been honored with multiple Plutus Awards recognizing excellence in financial content and community impact.

The site and its founder have also been featured in media outlets including Yahoo Finance, The NY Times, Credit.com and other financial media publications.

Built on Real Experience

Unlike many financial platforms built solely around theory, Yes I Am Cheap was built from lived experience combined with years of professional and educational expertise.

Founder Sandy Smith is a:

Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI),
MBA graduate with a concentration in Small Business and Entrepreneurship,
financial educator,
speaker,
and longtime advocate for accessible financial literacy.

The platform combines practical financial education with real-world understanding of the emotional and everyday realities that often come with managing money.

What You’ll Find Here

Readers come to Yes I Am Cheap for practical, realistic financial guidance that meets people where they are.

Content across the platform focuses on:

getting out of debt,
improving financial habits,
increasing financial literacy,
making informed money decisions,
navigating life changes,
and building sustainable financial confidence over time.

Whether someone is working to pay off debt, improve credit, save more money, or simply feel more in control financially, the goal is to provide information that is approachable, useful, and actionable.

Our Philosophy

Financial progress is not about perfection.

It’s about consistency, education, better decisions, and creating opportunities for long-term stability and freedom.

At Yes I Am Cheap, we believe financial education should feel empowering — not intimidating.

Stay Connected

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