You downsized to one car. Coupons are now as valuable as trading cards. The entertainment budget is limited to video rentals and vacations mean camping in the backyard. Financial sacrifices can bring a budget out of the red and into the black, but how do you deal with this newfound darkness? Here are suggestions to renew your frugal focus.

Allow room for small splurges. You’re likely to do much better if you plan for times where you’ll need to reward yourself. There are millions of inexpensive little things to get your fix, from sodas to socks. Everyone has a vice, which can be very healthy and in need of expression.

Failure isn’t as crucial as continuing. Even the most inspiring financial advisors experience a lapse in spending reason. The Dollar Stretcher says frugal fatigue is no different than falling off the diet bandwagon. Everyone falls of the horse, but it takes real strength to get back on.

Quit comparing yourself. It’s far too easy to think about what you don’t have when standing in the middle of a department store or a friend’s redecorated living room. Keep away from influences that encourage spending and stay exposed to creative ideas about what others do in the same boat.

Create a reminder shrine. Have a visual you can go back to when the craving to spend strikes. Maybe it’s a picture collage or a contract you signed with your family. Find something you can refer back to that helps you rededicate yourself to the journey once again.