I was able to find Andromeda galaxy using a star map (National Audubon field guide), a red flashlight and binoculars. With quite a lot of light pollution here I needed the binoculars to see it but I found it looked more spectacular then though a telescope. I was pretty excited when I found it without the aid of a star finder (autostar). Locating constellations with a star map is more difficult then I thought but now I enjoy it, especially after I can actually find stuff.

The square of Pegasus has a triangle of stars in the upper right corner that appears to point to the left side and towards the Andromeda constellation (looks like Pegasus's legs) and from there I find the spot near where the galaxy should be and then use my binoculars. It took me a while but it was well worth it I thought.