Simple to say but not always to do

Like "buy low and sell high," the key to financial success is really built on simple points. The problem is letting these points guide one's decisions. We tend to make impulse purchases we can ill afford when armed with credit cards that let us forget the fundamental axiom in this post at http://www.budgetsaresexy.com/2009/11/if-you-cant-pay-for-it-dont-buy-it.html
I did a piece years ago warning about being armed and dangerous with credit cards, you can find it archived at http://kallahmagazine.com/MoneyMatters.htm under the title "Take Charge!"