The way most of us save is to put away whatever is left after all expenses are taken care of, or put away any surplus income. But that is not the best...

The way most of us save is to put away whatever is left after all expenses are taken care of, or put away any surplus income. But that is not the best way of saving and there are chances of us falling short. A very stringent savings plan that favours future demands over current aspirations is also likely to fail. Instead, a better approach is where due consideration is given to current and future needs. This will help divide the available income between current consumption and future saving. If an expense or a need is too large to be met out of the regular income, earmark it for the future. So the __________ way to buy a coveted watch is not to swipe the credit card and commit yourself to debt, but to set aside money from your current income and buy the watch when you have the required funds.

Which of the following words should fill in the blank in the paragraph?