What is your secret to saving money?

For extreme saving, cut out everything except for bare essentials. Even for food, sometimes seeing the deals on Fave (or current Shopback 1 for 1) could get your food at similar prices to food courts!
IMO, food courts aren't really that cheap these days.

The fun version...
1. Semi-hikikomori... No need to catch, but get me out if you can.
2. Semi... Scrooge McDuck, and no YOLO.
3. Single.
4. No children... but my parent.
5. Too many encouragement by married male friends to remain single... WTH!?!
6. No BTO/Condo... but i got a REIT!
7. No car... but BUS and MRT that works - FTW!

Earnest version:
Passion for saving, investing money and living within ones means. Simple and uncomplicated lifestyle.

1. differentiate things you want to buy as a NEED or a WANT. Buy those that you need.
2. track your expenses by reading your bank statements
3. limit the use of cash, having cash in your pocket will make you want to spend them
4. leverage on cash back apps

I can tell you to note down your expenses; pay yourself first blah blah but honestly for me it doesn't always works. Like I can tell you frankly right now I'm supposed to note my daily expenses into my mondly app but I didn't.. yet I still manage to save money based on my plan.

Because I keep scaring the shit outta myself.

By scaring myself into thinking "shit, I wouldn't have enough to pay for xxx" and thinking of the unthinkable.. it makes me rethink of my buys. I still indulges but for bigger items.. I think long and hard. Example: I thought of purchasing a $120 backpack for myself few months back. After thinking through for 3 months; I still wanted to get it. In the end I scared myself and googled for something on taobao; managed to get it at 1/3 the price and happy with the purchases now.

Find the intrinsic value that drives you to your goal first; then the tiny steps of actionable items to get there.