Tips on saving colors:
Instead of just picking colors between the piece, I'll take it further, and say you should try constructing a palette from the ground up in a branching way. (Better to just edit when you are this far in, but try this out on the next one)
Like that:
Actually most of
the original thread is worth a read.
IMO it's better practice to build palettes this way. More coherent palettes, and contrast between entries is more balanced (people generally perceive more contrast in brighter colors than in darker ones for example. So if you have to isolate each entry as pixel art does, you want your focus there.)
In any element, some thought/simplification beforehand saves you from that much headache when working on something.
This goes for palettes as well. Start simple and work your way up.
Eventually you will probably start thinking about colors organically, in "branching" instead of "linear" ramps, cut down colors basically intrinsically, and still have a sexy piece.
Even works for traditional, pixels are just an extension of that, with differing limitations.
just some quick thoughts. HTH.