They clip coupons, buy secondhand clothes and drive rusty cars. They could keep up with the Joneses if they wanted to, but choose to max out their 401(k)s.

There are 20- and 30-somethings out there who live within their means and delay gratification, but the media rarely write about their savings prowess, choosing to chide their counterparts who live by the latte and the credit card.

Here are four under 40 who enjoy saving money and were willing to share their spending philosophies, their financial upbringing and advice for their generation.

LISA FORSLUND

of Buffalo, Minn., 37

GROWING UP: I've always been frugal and smart with my money. It was part of how I was raised. We got an allowance and a clothing allowance. If we wanted to upgrade and get the fashion label, we would have to pay the difference ourselves.

THE WILL TO WAIT: I can delay gratification until the cows come home. I'm in a temporary librarian position and until I find a full-time permanent job, I'm trying to save as much as I can — $750 per paycheck. The goal is by the end of this contract to have one year's living expenses.

FAVORITE PERSONAL FINANCE RESOURCES: Amy Dacyczyn's book "The Tightwad Gazette," the Dollar Stretcher (www.stretcher.com/index.cfm) and blogs like Boston Gals Open Wallet (http://bostongalsopenwallet.blogspot.com).

SHAWN HERMAN

of Minneapolis, 35

ON HIS CAR: I drive a beat-up, rusting-out Volkswagen Golf. When I go by the BMW dealership, I say, "Oh, I'd love to drive one of those." How long would the satisfaction last? A month or two, and then I'd be sad that I have a huge car payment.

NOT LIKE HIS FRIENDS: So many of my friends get a nice position at a corporation or do well for themselves and go out and buy the 4,000-square-foot house, or buy a boat or cabin. ... Next thing you know they find themselves living paycheck to paycheck and making six figures a year. That's ludicrous.

HATES DEBT: I avoid debt like the plague. I don't like to owe people money. I own a house and make a point of prepaying my mortgage (to pay down the principal faster).

FAVORITE MONEY PHRASE: Any fool can make money, but it takes a genius to keep it.

THERESA HENKELMAN

of Crystal, Minn., 33

WASN'T ALWAYS THRIFTY: For many years in my 20s I would rack up credit card debt, then pay it off with a line of credit, then rack up more. I did not actually start living how I live now until I was 30. I believe it was the influence of my boyfriend (now husband). ... He lived his financial life with more of a frugal, "save-money" mentality.

GLASS IS HALF FULL: I think it's important for our generation to shift our focus about saving. ... It is not about what you are losing out on by saving or not spending, but what peace of mind you can have every night about the fact that your finances are in balance. That peace of mind is priceless to me now.

JESSICA HACKMAN

of Shakopee, Minn., 29

SAVES MORE THAN SPENDS: (My husband and I) each participate in the 401(k) plan offered at our jobs. Gotta love that free-match money. Also, since the wedding, we have combined our Roth IRA contribution into one large account in order to max that one out. We have always had a savings account in addition to everything else.

LIVING AT HOME PAID OFF: In the six years in between college and getting married I lived at home with my parents. Now, at first it felt pretty lame, but after awhile I came to realize what an amazing opportunity it was. ... Because of the generosity of my parents, I was able to pay off not only my car but my student loans ... and to be able to pay cash (for our portion of) our wedding.

NOT PERFECT: I'm still a huge sucker for sales at Bath & Body Works or Victoria's Secret, and my husband loves Best Buy-type stuff. But we really try to resist those urges for the most part and keep our spending to maybe one-a-year things.