It can sound a bit like a broken record, but I cannot stress enough how key it is if you want to successfully live within tight financial constraints.
Without planning, your best intentions to limit your expenditures remain just that ---- good intentions.
Putting just a little effort into getting organized can pay huge dividends in terms of savings.
It has worked out that way for our household, for sure. I have typically spent far less on food and groceries than the average U.S. household, and that has amounted to hundreds, thousands, and even tens of thousands of dollars in savings over the years.