Based on your financial expertise, provide your response or viewpoint on the given financial question or topic. The response format is open.

I spend too much money. How can I get on the path to a frugal lifestyle?
As others have said, doing a monthly budget is a great idea.  I tried the tracking expenses method for years and it got me nowhere, I think for these reasons: If budgeting isn't your cup of tea, try the "pay yourself first" method.  Here, as soon as you get a paycheck take some substantial portion immediately and use it to pay down debt, or put it in savings (if you have no debt).   Doing this will force you to spend less money on impulse items, and force you to really watch your spending.  If you take this option, be absolutely sure you don't have any open credit accounts, or you'll just use them to make up the difference when you find yourself broke in the middle of the month. The overall key here is to get yourself into a long term mind set.  Always ask yourself things like "Am I going to care that I didn't have this in 10 years? 5 years? 2 months? 2 days even?  And ask yourself things like "Would I perfer this now, or this later plus being 100% debt free, and not having to worry if I have a steady paycheck".   I think what finally kicked my butt and made me realize I needed a long term mind set was reading The Millionaire Next Door by Tom Stanley.  It made me realize that the rich get rich by constantly thinking in the long term, and therefore being more frugal, not by "leveraging" debt on real estate or something like 90% of the other books out there tell you.