Keep your nose to the grindstone; don't be a frugality slacker

Frugal people can't be frugal at everything. There's always an area where you can make improvements. Sometimes there's a strategy that you were really focused on at one time, but then you set it aside or eased off for one reason or another. Have you been a frugal slacker? We all get caught up in life and aren't as diligent as we can be. The important thing is to recognize when you're starting to fall off the frugal track and aim your attention back to ways to stay on. How can you shape up your frugality?

Here's a reminder of ways you can buckle down.

Decluttering: Maybe you had every intention on purging some of your clutter but didn't get to it last year. Garage-sale season is on the way, so now is a good time to start organizing unwanted items into boxes. There are many practical items that are great sellers, so don't overlook anything because you think it won't sell.

One reader, Becky from Kansas, shares: "I make a bunch of money selling health and beauty aids. I get them at Walgreen's on their free after rebate stuff or for real cheap and then if I don't use them, I put $1 price tag on them and they go like hotcakes. Pure profit for me." You never know who might purchase it. Every little sale adds up.

Many crafters, collectors and dealers frequent garage sales, so don't be afraid to include one-of-a-kind type items, too. (Ex: one single glass or one individual candlestick)

Leftovers: Too many leftovers going into the trash? Refocus your efforts on wasting less food. Make it a new priority. Plan leftovers into your meal plan. Keep an inventory list to track the food you have and when it expires, and organize and clean your pantry and refrigerator regularly.

Shopping: When you're tired or sick, you might send someone else to do the food shopping. Chances are they will stray from the grocery list or make frequent small trips to the store, and your budget takes the hit. If you dislike shopping, this can easily become a bad habit that starts the downward spiral of eating takeout or frozen convenience meals more often.

Eating out is one of the hardest budget busters to break, so it should be on the top of your list of areas to concentrate on. You have to be determined to fuel yourself the best way that you can. Remind yourself that your health is No. 1!

None of the other frugal strategies will mean anything at all if you don't take care of yourself. Go through your budget and identify how much you're spending monthly on convenience foods, and challenge yourself to spend less.

Energy wasters: When the days are shorter and colder, you tend to use more energy. It's easy to forget how much energy you're wasting. Once you put more effort into conserving energy, it's like riding a bike and it will all come back to you. You can monitor your usage. Join the energy saving challenge on my forums (frugalvillage.com/forums) to help you stay on track. Members read their meters, share the kilowatts they use and work on lowering bills.

• Sara Noel owns Frugal Village (frugalvillage.com), a Web site that offers practical, money-saving strategies for everyday living. Send tips, comments or questions, write to Sara Noel, c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016, or sara@frugalvillage.com.