Years ago, I was having a phone conversation with Debbi Fields (yes, that Debbi Fields of the addictive chocolate-chip cookies). I was working on my first company to help women achieve their financial dreams, and Debbi was supportive because she was raising four daughters. During our chat, she said something that I continue to echo today: She said she continues to look for ways to spend wisely because "If I spend less here, it means I have that much more for the things I care about."

You see, it’s not about going without -- it's about being smarter so we can have what we want in our lives. Saving money is the key to buying a home, sending kids to college, going on vacation, even starting that dream business or non-profit.

There are lots of things we can do to keep from busting our budgets -- like eating salads every day at work, or staying home every night. But that's no fun, and it’s also unrealistic. Instead of going to extremes, controlling your budget can help your financial state right away, while fixing your credit score can help you over the long run.

1. Beat Your Budget

My favorite budget-saving tip? Write it down. Someone just told me that the number-one key to success in losing weight is to keep a diary. So let's do the same with our money and drop those dollars.

• Create a simple budget: Write down when your bills, rent, and any other payments are due. This way, you'll pay everything on time and nothing will creep up on you. You can get a simple free budget kit CD at www.freebudgetkit.com.

• Write a grocery list: Instead of using it as an "I don't want to forget" list, use it as a "I can only buy these things" list. Inevitably, you'll find that a lot of the stuff you used to grab off the shelves were things you wanted, not stuff you needed.

• Make a spending diary: Ever take a peek into your purse -- only to find that all the cash is gone and you have no idea where it went? Keeping a spending diary tells you exactly where your money is going.

2. Fix Your Credit

This can take a while, but it'll save you money now and in the future when your score improves.

• Pay bills on time: Remember that this is the single most important factor in your credit score. Set email alerts to help. If you're running into trouble, better to call your creditor and ask if you can be late without it dinging your credit report. For more help on credit, consider my Quick & Easy Credit Kit for free ways to protect and build your credit.

• Pay off your cards: One study found that charging a $100 sweater on a credit card could cost you as much as $212, thanks to all the fees and interest charges. Credit cards are a losing proposition, unless you pay it off at the end of each month. Put as much as you can to paying them off, starting with the card with the highest interest rate (while continuing to make at least the minimum payments on the others). By the way, you can learn about the credit card companies like American Express, Capital One, and JPMorgan Chase at WeSeed.

• Watch your lending bed-buddies: If your girlfriend or boyfriend wants you to co-sign a loan, be very, very wary. Please, please don’t get in bed with someone financially unless you have the financial wherewithal to pay off the loan if they can't -- and to stomach the impact on your credit score for any misbehaviors on their part, like late payments.

3.Control your shopping.

Sound harsh? So is going into debt for the latest fashion trend. Shopping can hurt both your budget and your credit.

• Don't join up: It may be tempting to save 10% on your purchase by signing up for XX's rewards card (especially if you’ve just found five pairs of shoes that are to die for).But opening too many new accounts is bad for your score.

• The one-week rule: Do you really, really, really want to buy that jacket in the window? Odds are you don't need it, but when you get that itch to buy, it’s hard to resist. Walk away and give yourself a week to think about it -- kind of like time out. You’ll probably realize you can actually live without it. Your checking account will thank you.

This stuff is even more important in today's climate because cash gives you a lot of security in these unsteady times, and cutting out unnecessary spending gives you a little more cushion just in case anything disastrous happens, like an emergency or losing your job. It might also be that little bit of money that can help you buy just one share of stock, and you can get started getting smart about your money and investing at WeSeed.com.

A few money-saving tips from the blogosphere:

• How I Save Money is on a personal quest for the frugal and the free in her daily life.
• Budget Girl Talk has practical tips for everything from grocery shopping to beauty products.
• Blunt Money posted 101 ways to reduce your spending and keep more of your money.

Jennifer Openshaw is co-founder and President of the soon-to-launch WeSeed, a fresh, fun, revolutionary approach to demystifying the stock market for real everyday people, and author of "The Millionaire Zone." The host of ABC Radio’s "Winning Advice," she’s been seen on shows ranging from Oprah, Rachel Ray and Dr. Phil to CNN, CNBC and Fox. You can reach her at jopenshaw@weseed.com.