One way I save money is to buy gift cards.
"Huh? " you ask.
But yes, as weird as it may sound, it helps me budget my money. For example, I knew way back in the fall that I was going to want some new clothes once I had my baby and lost the baby weight. So I started buying gift cards whenever I had a little extra money. I also asked for gift cards for Christmas. I now have $300 to go buy (guilt-free) some clothes. (That is, if this baby weight ever comes off, at this rate, I may just be purchasing shoes and purses. *sigh*)
You have to be careful though, some companies charge fees on top of the card, so for example, you end up paying 56 dollars for a 50 dollar card. I avoid this by reading the circulars in the Sunday paper. CVS and Walgreens both run deals where you can avoid paying those fees.
This will not work for everyone but it certainly works for me. I plan on shopping soon, after I hit the gym!