Last fall, my husband’s job situation changed, and since, we have been working to be more careful with our spending. We have a budget and try to use cash as much as possible. The only debt that we have is our cars and our houses.

But we both struggle. We don’t live in a society that encourages saving, careful consideration of spending or even a conscious awareness of spending. When so many websites so kindly store your credit card information, with one click bata-bing-bata-boom- you are the new owner of this or that knick knack and your budget is shot.

We have frugal friends, but no one ever seems to go without. Wants are bought on a whim, vacations are scheduled and taken. I struggle with jealousy for what I think others have a lot, when, in reality, I know that they probably have a mountain of credit card debt following them around.

What is your budget philosophy? How do you determine when a “want” is worth it and when the money in the savings account really needs to just stay there? Has your outlook on this changed in the last few years?