Win7 security strategy for program install/use?

I just installed Win7 from XP and I'm having a tough time figuring out the best way to setup/use programs without totally disabling the UAC out of frustration. I'm trying not to disable it but it's pretty annoying. Can anyone give a general strategy for setting up the operating system within the UAC environment?

I started out trying to install programs on my user account but found that to be highly annoying with all the pop-ups about permissions. So I tried installing programs using the admin account but I'm unsure of the best way to make those programs available (with the program settings intact so I don't have to set everything up twice) to my user account. Logically, it seems this is the best method but I'm not sure if I should "share" the programs between admin and user or go into the program properties and select "run as admin" for every program I want to use on a user account...or both? If I share/run as admin all these programs isn't that somewhat defeating the purpose of not using an admin account anyway?

Thanks in advance for any info.

If the applications are new, they should work without pop-up's as they will be configured for a 7 environment. As has been said keep UAC - its another part of your defense in depth.