The golden rule when playing roulette, or any other gambling game, is to never bet more than you can afford to lose. Even if you are using the best strategy or tips known to man there will always be times when you lose money. If you are in a position where you need the money for something else, do not place a single bet! Wait until you have some spare money to gamble with.
ALWAYS when playing roulette make an effort to find a table with only a single 0 and not a 00 and 0. I cannot emphasise this enough, you will be cutting the house edge in half, and whether you are using a strategy or system, or simply playing for fun, there is no need to put yourself at a bigger disadvantage than necessary. Go to my single 0 roulette casinos page to find a list of online casinos that have single 0 roulette.
Also, if you are playing at an online casino then you can take advantage of the opportunity to play for free before you have to stake any real money. This is a good way to get a feel for the game, especially if you've never played before.
If you are playing at a 'real life' casino, try and find a quiet table if possible. This will give you a chance to concentrate on the system you are using, and it will also make the game go quicker, hopefully meaning you will be able to make money at a larger hourly rate.