Do most home projects DIY, can do fences, bushes, lawns, and trees - last tree quote we got was $10K...I've taken down 2 that size in past 5-6 yrs.
Eat in more than out.
I love to fish so I keep fish and we eat those - also run a modest boat with lower fuel bill.
We buy a cow from farmer and self butcher for meat. A cow will last a year or more.
Garden & can or freeze.
mow my own lawn.
Wife does cut my hair.
Do modest vacations - my wife has a requirement for a week every year but I usually hunt or fish on my days off. Do plan for bigger trips and save for them.
Buy stuff on sale.
If I want something, say a new scope - I wait for some kind of price reduction whether it be black friday sale, closeout sale, some kind of 10-25-20% off coupon. I once bought a scope that was on sale and had a $100 gift card with it. So, saved $200-$300 or so. Then used the gift card to buy mounts and rings...
Take good care of your car/house - earlier repairs are typically cheaper than waiting for stuff to break.
I pay folks to work on my vehicles and boat motor these days - my time off is worth more than an auto or outboard repair. Plus if it breaks after, they get the headache and not me.
Figure out what you want to spend money on - you need a new car... used might be more cost effective or not. For an additional $100/month I'd rather have a new car over used one with 60K miles. Don't max out your purchase power if you can avoid it - an extra "$500"/month doesn't get that much more house but if you put in 401K with some kind of match, in 20 yrs, you'll have a nice pile.
We bought a "modest" home - the kind folks buy to rent - instead of a bigger place. Did that after I had been laid off few times over a 10 yr period - didn't want a maxed payment, wanted to be able to afford it on wife's salary... We also refinanced as rates went down - started at 8.25, then 6 then stopped at 3.75%.
But really, if you find you need more money then something has to change - either get additional skills and better job, work more hours, figure out a way to reduce the big expenses (auto/home mortgage, rent, medical insurance, stuff like that), and such.
If you have debt, you can restructure the debt - HELOC or other type of loan can consolidate debt into 1 smaller payment and change your cash flow, allowing you to save more.
The absolute best way to save money is to make more... The nickels and dimes do add up but they don't beat being able to put a $5-$10 bill in the jar every day or two.
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