I was hired in AWAC in early January of 2006, and I made $25,000 including per-diem my first year. I lived in IND for the first 9 months of that, the last 3 I lived in Frederick MD.

My wife and I got married in late May, just after she graduated college. On my salary and with her entry-level job pay (very low 20s also) we were able to cover all living expenses including nearly $600/mo in student loan debt even with me putting 10% of my income into 401k. We even managed to save a few thousand dollars that first year, even after the move to Frederick thanks to my wife getting a new job that paid MUCH better.

We had ZERO debt other than student loans, drove 10 year old cars, didn't have expensive hobbies or tastes and didn't eat out often.

Its not hard, it only takes discipline and a HUGE aversion to debt.