I am curious how you made it through 1st year regional pay?

I am thinking about making the jump back to the regionals until (hopefully) a major calls. That being said. I have been at 1st year pay before an it was rough! Commuting, crash pad, student loans... on and on. At the end of the month money was coming out of my savings to do it. So I left for a job that paid better. I have saved a substantial amount of money, living well below my means for about 2 years now. Now I have a lot of money in my rainy day fund and enough that I could live off of for one year at 22K. Just curious how you did it? I don't have Mommy and Daddy to throw me some money every once in a while or to live with. Plan on moving to base and hopefully finding a roommate. Toughest thing I am trying to come to terms with is the significant pay cut.....