I know I say this a lot, but live your financial truth. 

There is something very freeing about living within your means, even in the face of peer pressure to spend.

For example, it’s okay to ask for separate checks. Or, if a price isn’t on the menu, to ask for it. Knowing the price up front allows you to make a conscious choice about how and when to spend.

If you start to worry that people might think you’re being cheap, replace those thoughts with a list of your financial goals.

Here’s another thing: Stop lying to yourself. This starts with getting a handle on your spending.

Are you one of those people who says, “I don’t eat out much?”

Make sure that’s true. Start by pulling up your bank statements from the past year. Grab some different colored highlighters. Use the markers to highlight your spending across categories, such as dining out. I bet you will be surprised at your discretionary spending.