For keeping water and moisture out of your basement without going all out and getting a full basement waterproofing system installed, you might want to look at using a sealant. The thing to keep in mind with a sealant is that it is likely just a short term solution.
Basement sealants come in a variety of styles, from a masonry paint to a spray sealant. You simply apply them to your basement walls and they can help eliminate the moisture and humidity from ruining the usefulness of your basement. They also prevent condensation from building up as well.
As I mentioned earlier, these sealants are really only a quick fix and as the water problem increases, they will not hold up to keeping it out. Yes, this is a cheap and inexpensive fix, but just don’t expect long term results from it. I’ve done this myself and it worked out until I could get a waterproofing system installed.