Although I don't use all that many coupons, I do have a method of puchasing non perishables when they are on sale and then stocking up like crazy. I rarely spend more than $2.50 on a box of cereal that would cost upward to $4.00 if it weren't on sale. Cereal is our staple for breakfast so just on that we save a considerable amount. I try to find toilet paper for 20 cents a roll. We don't eat much meat, so I suppose that is a saving too, but it is more of a food preference. We are selective as to where we shop, sometimes buying certain items at certain stores. We do eat out a couple times a week, but go to places like Panera Bread Co., Boston Market, and Applebee's and sometimes *eating out* is a sandwich from Subway. There have been times in my life when even a stop at McDonalds was a rare treat, so believe me I understand there are levels of being fiscally conservative that are more severe that what we practice now.

I don't think it is so much a matter of how much you are spending as it is how much you want to save and where you can find the ways to economize to make that happen. Personally I find saving money a very compelling challenge and would continue to be prudent in my spending even if I had unlimited resources.