1. Use a Checkbook Register. Remember those little booklets that come with boxes of checks? I still use one! I use a checkbook register to track every debit card purchase, every deposit, every check. Since I started doing this, I’ve never had to worry about overdrafts—I’ve always known exactly how much was in my checking account. I don’t actually carry around the check register everywhere I go, but I leave it at home or in my suitcase if I’m traveling and I update it with my receipts once a day.

2. Make Your Budget with a Spreadsheet. I used to budget on pen and paper too, but I found it was a lot easier to let a spreadsheet like Microsoft Excel do the math for me. That’s why I created my original budget spreadsheet. Recently, I created a really simple budget worksheet that simplifies the monthly budget even further by grouping categories of expenses. Don’t get me wrong, I love—and use—fancy budgeting tools like Quicken and Mint.com from time to time, but I find they can’t replace the simplicity of a good spreadsheet.

3. Limit Yourself to One or Two Credit Cards. I’m still whittling away at some old debts, so I have more credit cards on my credit report than I’d like. But I’m down to using just two (that I pay-in-full every month, of course). One is a joint card that my wife and I use for groceries and recurring monthly bills; the other I use for personal expenses like gas, gifts, etc. Perhaps someday I’ll ditch the personal card all together and just use cash, but I really like the way credit card statements organize your purchases, so we’ll see.

4. Use Automatic Bill Pay. I don’t think I write a single check for a monthly bill anymore. I simply set up bill pay through my checking account and forget about it (except when it’s time to update my checkbook register, of course). I have these bills set up so that my bank pays the billers (rather than authorizing the biller to withdraw money from my account). Call me crazy, but I just don’t want to give anybody carte blanche access to my checking account.

5. Invest in Index Funds. Feel free to prove me wrong, but I open up Yahoo! Finance or listen to Jim Cramer, and I say, who in hell—other than handsomely-paid hedge fund managers—actually buys this stuff? When half of professional money managers can’t beat the stock market, why are individual investors even trying? My retirement accounts are in index funds. Done and done.

6. Say ‘No’ to Loyalty Programs. The other night, my wife was horrified that I threw out a junk-mail envelope containing a $10 off coupon for a shoe store. She’s right, coupons are good, but only when they’re for things you need to buy. Trouble is, most store loyalty programs plaster us with coupons that expire next week for items we rarely need today! I have too many pairs of shoes already. The way I see it, if I saved $10 on a $50 pair of shoes, I still spent $40 I didn’t need to. So I’m opting out of any programs that reward spending with incentives to spend more. That just doesn’t add up. Plus, I don’t want anything else on my key chain!

7. Pay Yourself First. This has to be one of my favorite personal finance concepts, and if you’re not doing it, you need to start: Pay yourself first! Whenever you get paid, transfer money to savings (or to debt if you’re digging out) before you pay anybody else. That way, you’ll never have to worry about spending money you should have saved.

8. Avoid Advertising. Advertising compels us to buy stuff we otherwise don’t want or need. Even if we’re consciously trying to ignore ads and live frugally, corporations pay ad wizards huge bucks to brainwash us. I don’t pretend I’m special and can just “tune out” their never-ending barrage of “buy-me” messages. Therefore, I try to limit how much TV I watch, and I’ve stopped reading magazines (except on long flights or in doctor’s offices). The fewer ads I see, the less I’m even tempted to think: “Ooo, I want that!”

9. Buy Only What You Need, When You Need It. This may seem at odds with the lessons of frugality freaks who stock up on certain items when they’re on sale, but I prefer to buy only the groceries I need for a couple of days. This way I’m less tempted to buy things I won’t eat quickly, and I waste less. If there’s a good price on something that keeps for a long time—say tuna fish or canned vegetables—I might be inclined to buy two weeks’ worth instead of two days’ worth, but that’s about it. This strategy also makes it easier to incorporate more vegetables in my diet, since I’m at the store every couple of days and can buy produce and consume it while it’s fresh.

10. Pair Up! I admit, before my wife and I got married (a month ago today), I was skeptical about combining finances. Although it will be a while before our finances are more combined than not, there’s a great sense of pleasure—and simplicity—that comes from combining things like our emergency fund and car insurance. But you don’t have to get married to enjoy the benefits of sharing expenses. Things are so much more affordable when you split them with somebody, be it a spouse, partner, or roommate. (Though I wouldn’t’ recommend you commingle funds with a roommate you met on Craigslist!)

What do you think? Do you follow any of these strategies to simplify your finances? Disagree with any? Have other strategies? Please share! For even more ways to simplify your money, check out Man vs. Debt’s 43 Ways to Radically Simplify Your Financial Life or ZenHabits’ 20 Money Hacks: Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Finances.

Related posts:

1. How to Overcome a Fear of Dealing with Your Finances
2. Weekly Links: Simplifying Your Finances
3. Hate Budgeting? 10 Tools to Simplify Your Monthly Budget