Random thought...
Anytime I start a new project, I do so on a shared host. This serves two functions.
- I do not waste time or resources for something that may or may not be successful (the future uncertain)
- It forces me to optimize and closely look at everything carefully
I think #2 is often the most beneficial.
Of course it also leaves me puzzled sometimes as I'll stumble across something that seems small, harmless, and seemingly beneficial... That turns out to use more resources that I originally imagined. It can be puzzling sometime too.