1. Sell every unused item on eBay or donate 'em. If it ain't touched in a year, it's gone.
2. Second job to afford the Starbucks every other day or so.
3. Own side business in addition to second and first jobs to keep the extra mocha-frappa-whatever in the Starbucks.
4. Netflix! No Cable TV = no advertising telling me to buy more junk and lots more time to spend on the businesses.
5. Amazon & pricescan to buy things at the right price.
6. 1-2 pairs of shoes, only, that last for years.
7. High quality clothing purchased during sales, they last for years.
8. No kids.
9. "Self-contained" pets that don't require grooming, vets, toys, and kennels during trips.
10. Cheap apartment and/or roommates, not spending $1.5 mil for a $32K home.
11. Buying non-perishable food items at Target (in L.A.) instead of grocery stores = $100-200 monthly savings on food bill
12. Side businesses allow all aviation junk to be tax write-offs, plus good tracking of traveling expenses means correct calculation of per diem write-offs.
13. Not competing on price in side businesses which actually allows for a profit.
14. Being willing to ruthlessly cull overhead when needed to ensure side business survival.
15. Living place has gym setup including pool, add one set of weights for the apartment and that saves the monthly gym fees.
16. Own one's car. Use payment amount to save for next car. Trade-in next car plus savings and drive new car 'til it falls apart while saving for next car. Rinse and repeat.
17. Work hard.
18. Splurge on earplugs, purchased through Amazon or like, to tolerate living in apartment or with roommates.
19. Don't compromise your morals, values, or integrity to make a buck.
20. Buy for $0.50, sell for $1.00.
The number one way to save money? No social life.
BTW, I let the accountants worry about every single dollar. I give myself an allowance of a certain amount a month where I don't worry about how it is spent. When it is gone, it is gone. If I have some leftover, there's some extra for the next month. It might not be the most frugal thing to do, but it is certainly the most peaceful.
YMMV.