Budgeting for EVERYTHING is probably the best advice. In my house, we keep a spreadsheet for every year, each month has the consistant bills: Rent, electric, cable, etc. over the course of the previous month I add any variable bills that come in like the gas bill. Everything goes in that budget including money for the little stuff like the laundromat, a friday night pizza, birthday gifts, a 30 pack for a friends BBQ, etc.
If it's not budgeted, chances are we aren't spending on it. Of course one unexpected car repair can wipe your projected savings but that's murphy's law. If you happen to go over budget on something take away from something else instead of just saying "I'll do better next time".
Secondly, shop cheap. The dollar stores have quite a bit of dry goods as far food goes. Toiletries come from the dollar store in my house. Family Dollar while not a true dollar store often has Folgers coffee cheaper than groceries stores. I'm lucky to have an
Aldi close by which has fantastic deals on just about everything. Aldi's in house brands are generally very good taste wise. All my meat comes from a
local butcher. We buy a meat package every month for between $60 and $90 dollars, depending on what we want/need and always have leftovers. Every 3rd month I skip the meat package and use the leftovers.
Thirdly, shop smart. The dollar store isn't always the cheapest. Ounce for ounce laundry detergent is cheaper at Wal-mart than the dollar store. If you overbuy food (bulk items) chances are any savings you got buying in bulk will be mitigated by what you throw out because it went bad.
Fourth and last, maintain your stuff. For example if your car battery is weak, spending $70 at Wal-Mart to replace it now rather than waiting until it goes completely dead and having to pay $85 for a service call plus getting raped for $100 for a new battery at the garage is money well spent.