I have been pretty low pay starting out, but never felt like I was one paycheck away from ruin because I did still save for emergencies. That's the part that most people don't seem to understand. The instant they get extra money through raises, bonuses, whatever... it's considered "fun" money or goes towards debt they racked up for past emergency/fun money (usually charged on cards).
Most of the time we suggest looking at what is called "low hanging fruit" meaning, the stuff that should be easy to cut/get cheaper.
Things like:
• LEARN TO COOK REAL FOOD (this one is likely the biggest money saver/will spoil you for eating out if you learn how to make things you love)
• cooking more whole foods from scratch instead of fancy boxed/prepared foods
• packing your lunch instead of buying it every day
• grocery shopping the sales and only buying necessities and buying things in more cost-efficient packaging (bulk IF it is a better deal)
• stop going out so much to socialize. Bar/eating out for social interactions can be replaced with potluck/game/movie nights in many cases
• cutting or stretching out time between things like car washes, manicures, haircuts, or learning to do things like this yourself
• researching cheaper alternatives for cellphone service, car insurance, cutting or doing without cable/internet packages, etc.
• creating a capsule wardrobe - a basic uniform suitable for work consisting of a few tops/bottoms that work well together, while allowing you to accessorize to add personal touches. Capsule wardrobes allow you to reduce the amount of clothing you have to maintain, meaning less cleaning, less stress involved in dressing each workday, less money/time overall. The number of people that use clothes shopping as entertainment/indulgence is too high. Most people have TOO MANY CLOTHES. I would challenge anyone that isn't already on the frugal path to start tracking what clothes they actually wear, and how much they actually need.
• STAYcations, or modify your actual vacation spending. SO MANY FUN/RELAXING THINGS to do in your area, but most people stress out over travel planning, then spend gobs of money they don't have to go someplace and stress all the way through (or get wasted and barely remember it). And then go back to work, stressed out from their "fun." SMH.
• free/cheap but fun things to do around town - library events/classes, church events, public events, dollar cinemas, free museum days, public/county parks host all sorts of events/classes, casual sports/exercise with friends/teams - there are usually websites or meetup groups that have lots of ideas
• thrift store shopping. I hesitate to put this one in for purely selfish reasons. I am sad the stores are getting crowded. I used to score the most amazing things - designer (even new) clothing, dishes, electronics, things I need/use daily - for pennies. Things that are dumped with tags still on them... because people LOVE BUYING THINGS but then hardly use them because they are already out chasing down the next deal at the retail stores. So gently used or brand spanking new items get dumped at the local thrift store. It's getting harder for me to find the spectacular deals I used to find, but they're still there just maybe takes me a trip or two more now. And if you are the type to scoff about how you're above shopping at a thrift store, awesome... just leaves more bargains for those of us that are waaaay smarter than all of you too-good types. :D
And it should go without saying that taking good care of things you use, fix things that need fixing, and keep up with any basic maintenance that extends the life of the things you own, instead of running out to buy more stuff makes more sense. So another really important thing to try to do to save money is learn basic life skills: sew a button, mend a seam, ironing, how to use basic tools, change air filters, get your car's tires air up at proper intervals, etc...
Mostly it really is about changing that mindset of blowing every single dollar you bring in on indulging yourself because you are stressed/tired/deserve it, whatever the excuse is. What makes a person feel the need to "indulge" anyway? Working too hard? Bills piling up? Um, that's kind of a thing that feeds itself - you see that, right? If you didn't spend every penny on things to reward yourself for working so hard... maybe you could... stop working so hard?
Saving money IS one of the most indulgent things you could do for yourself because it gives you the luxury of not being chained to your next paycheck, the freedom to not constantly worry about losing your job or what happens if you can only pay one bill out of the three unexpected ones that popped up this month. A freaking fancy coffee habit or new item every day isn't going to help fix your life. It's just another link in that chain keeping you tied to that job, terrified of the next bill, or emergency you can't afford.