Seeing the Trees for the Forest

We are all familiar with the phrase -- you can't see the trees for the forest -- which is said to mean that you cannot see the important detail among the many other details.  It is an easy trap to fall into.  One of the things I learned from Dwane was to buy quality, only what we want, when we need it.  Prior to that, and still sometimes, I have been prone to bargain hunting.  His way was better.  How do you attend to the small details of your life?