One thing we Dutchies are famous (or infamous) for is being cheap.

Growing up, we almost never ate out, and when we did it was McDonald's. We weren't allowed soda, and we had to eat our meat because that was the "expensive" part. Buying new clothes was a treat, as most of them were hand-me-downs from older cousins or from the thrift shop. The first time I remember taking a plane anywhere was when I was 17; we would drive everywhere else.

Okay, okay, most of that was not due to the Dutch thriftiness, but rather because a pastor's salary doesn't stretch that luxuriously between a family of 6. When I grew up and gained control of my own money, I lost a lot of the frugal habits of my childhood. I will admit to spending over $100 on a pair of jeans.

Now that the economy is slithering and sinking to a Depression-reminiscent bottom, all the frugality of my childhood is coming back to me. I'm actually really enjoying learning to save money again, and bargain hunting where I can. Here are some of my top tips for avoiding spending more money than you have.

1. Take your credit cards out of your wallet - in their place, put a slip of paper titled "Wish List". When you see something you want, instead of whipping out the plastic, write the item down on your list. After a few weeks, revisit the list and see what on it you still want. A lot of what we buy is purchased on impulse, and simply suspending the impulse can save a lot of money.

2. Cut down your meals out - if you eat out 5 times a week, bring it down to four. A grilled chicken breast sandwich with fries might cost $8 at an inexpensive restaurant (before taxes and tip). The same meal at home would cost $2-3.

3. Eliminate unnecessary monthly expenses - magazine subscriptions, though inexpensive, can be a big drain, especially when so much information is available online, and you can go to a local bookstore and read the print version with a cup of coffee in a comfy chair. If your car is older, talk to your insurance agent about eliminating comprehensive & collision coverage (the part that pays for damage to your car). I just did and I'm saving over $30 a month.

4. Take advantage of membership discounts - one thing I love to do is see movies in the theater. Through my Costco membership, I can get two tickets for $15, which saves about $5 per movie or up to $15 for Imax showings. Through my significant other's student id, tickets can be bought for $6 apiece.

5. Clip coupons - I have an aversion to this one since it always made me feel poor, but I had to remind myself that a lot of items are sold on a huge markup. Using coupons doesn't mean I'm poverty-stricken, it just means that I'm stealing back some of the producer's profits.

There are approximately 752 million other ways to save money if you're keen on finding them. All it takes is a little preparation and a bit of creativity to stretch that dollar just a little farther than usual.