1. Pay with actual cash when you can. Credit cards are a major cause of overspending. When we whip out the plastic, our mind goes numb; we don't process the transaction the same visceral way we do when we spend cash. （Think of it like using poker chips in Vegas -- only without Wayne Newton tunes cranking through the sound system.） In fact, some experts say people spend 15% to 30% more when using credit instead of cash. Spending actual cash forces you to think about every dollar you spend, so you experience a physical reaction to forking over $1s and $5s.

    盡可能用現金支付。信用卡鼓勵提前消費。當我們刷卡的時候，我們不會在乎那些錢，換做是付現金就好很多。

    2. Set up an instant no-brainer budget. The "envelope" budgeting approach will help you get in tune with your spending in a snap. The idea is that you carry around just the amount of cash you want to devote to various spending categories （lunch, entertainment, cute shoes） for that week. Try it for the first couple of weeks in January and see how it affects your purchasing. Chances are it'll keep you from frittering away your money so much so that you'll tell the whole family to play along.

    做一個粗略的預算。例如，將每周做的預算放在一個信封里，任何花費只能從這個信封里抽取。

    3. Keep your big wants/dreams in the forefront of your mind. Think of every financial decision in the context of your larger money goals （be it buying a new coat, paying cash for your next car, or securing your retirement）. Before you toss a gossip magazine into your grocery cart while waiting in the checkout line or buy something just because it's on sale consider whether or not such purchases get you to that two-week cruise or covering Junior's college costs.

    記清楚自己花錢的大項。在買娛樂雜志的時候，或一些細小的消費的時候，想想你是否有足夠的錢去買新車，是否有足夠的養老金。

    4. Always shop with a list. It may be cliché， but shopping with a list will keep you honest. Studies show that as much as 60% of supermarket purchases are unplanned. With the average family shelling out $5,000 for groceries each year, that's $2,000 of unnecessary stuff running across the scanner.

    購物前列一張清單。雖然看似繁瑣，但是這樣的清單可以讓你合理購物。