Technically, you should track your money and see where it all goes and adjust your spending, cut where it's needed, and etc. Not to be full of excuses or lack of effort, that does not work well for me and my husband, we differ widely on thoughts of spending money (i.e. last time we did this together, there was a huge fallout on him buying a pair of $130 pair of boots and my $6 package of tampons.......).
For me I decided I needed to change the way we are living, period! I came to this conclusion a few weeks ago (I fell off the frugal wagon HARD!)- I came home from work exhausted (mentally), to a messy house with loads of clean laundry taking over the 1 couch (that needed to be folded), to a hungry husband and child asking what's for dinner, my response was 'we are going out to eat'. While we were out eating, mind you the third time that week, when we got the bill I figured that we almost spent half my pay in 3 days going out to eat (my husband enjoyed 3 steak dinners that week). I got my job so we would have insurance and money to set aside for remodeling the house, not to go out to eat! So I decided, I need to 'Live Simply'. If we live simply, we would have less stuff, be more organized, less cleaning to do, and have more money. I am starting to declutter, making menus for the week (although we did go out to eat two times since then). I have noticed the more organized I get the better we manage and save our money. I work hard for my money, I want it to work for me!
As for looking for sales and such, I really don't have too much time to shop around for deals. I just know sometimes for us, quality over quantity works. I will try to find deals on some things but know where not to waste money. My youngest loves Justice clothing, I know at a local Goodwill I can get her a few outfits for half the price of 1 outfit at the store (or only shop the clearance racks). My oldest has an odd body type, very short with hips and a butt (but of course she is a size 0), we know of 2 brands that fit her very well without alterations, those are the only pants we will purchase for her, she may only get 2 pairs, but we know those 2 pairs will fit and not be a waste of money.