Make a list to shop, but if something is on sale and it's a better deal, your are saving money. I also use coupons, buy the Wed or Sunday Paper, they have the most coupons, chip even the ones that you don't use to trade them for coupons that you do use. Invite your neighbors over for a coupon trading party. Some books that comes have coupons I download some from the computer. Money earned is money saved. You have to keep track of the date on the coupons. Some stores have double or triple coupons. A friend of mine saved enough to buy 4 tickets on the plane and pay for Disney trip. When shopping buy the longest date available on products. We buy papergood when we see them on sale. I even have some coupons for chicken feed. We did bought peeps 6 weeks ago as this year is going to be bad for ticks and chickens love bugs and dandelions. They also keep the grass trimmed for us. You have to fence them and put them in at night with a light and close the door.