Getting Started: Some Suggestions

This is not the first time that I tried to take control of my spending and get into couponing. I am embarrassed to say that this probably the third time. But it is the only time that has stuck. By the length of time I've been doing well, too, I would say that it has stuck for good.

So, because I don't want anyone else to have to learn the hard way, I wanted to share some suggestions that I have come across from my past frugal flops.

1. Make this work for you. Don’t get hung up on feeling as if you have to do everything that I or anyone else does. This is not a competition. Don't try to beat my budget, try to beat yours.

2. Take it SLOW. Don’t try to do everything all at once. Remember “slow and steady wins the race.” I learned this the hard way too, by trying to be a "pro" all at once, and I burned out faster than a Fourth of July sparkler.

3. Maximize YOUR lifestyle while minimizing the costs associated with it. If you like to eat meat, you shouldn't feel as if you have to give it up in the name of "savings." If you do that, I can nearly guarantee it will not last. Just find a way to get your meat more inexpensively. It can be done.

4. No deal is worth sacrificing your integrity. Do not engage in even questionable bargain hunting tactics, but by all means fully use all legitimate means. The thrill of the hunt for a bargain can be a powerful thing, and I have seen it overpower my conscience on a few occasions. Please be very careful.

5. If it gets wasted, it doesn’t matter how good the deal was. Make sure to use or give away any items before they go bad. The tendency to overbuy is very strong when the items are plentiful and cheap. Just use reason and know how much your family will use.

6. Track your progress. Knowing you are making a difference, no matter how gradual, will motivate you to keep learning and saving. Just think of how looking back over the savings you have accumulated will help you to realize how worthwhile the time you spend hunting for deals is!

7. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER go into debt to get a good deal. No triple coupon deal is worth selling yourself into financial slavery. I don't want to get into a debate about credit cards, and I know that it is possible to use them in a way that is responsible, but it is my personal belief that cash is the king of the bargain.

What advice might you add to this list? I know many of you folks have wisdom to share. Please share it with us!