1) The biggest thing for me was finally discovering that I had an identity. You might not think this is important, but if you grew up in a dysfunctional house being ground between the millstones of three domineering, bullying personalities, it looms very large.
-Among other things, this. I went from living with my parents, subject to their rules, to living in a barracks, subject to others' rules, to living with my first wife, subject to her rules, to having a brief, live-in girlfriend (I wasn't really subject to rules, then, but with no known personal preferences, I gave her free reign to decorate, and found I didn't care too much for the paint job
), to being alone, with enough financial stability to start figuring out the things I wanted. It was great, I have my curio cabinet with my fantasy and wizard statuettes tastefully displayed in all their geeky splendor, and I had framed pictures of my favorite fantasy art. Sadly, the artwork is no longer displayed, now that I'm married, again. Oh well. I've still got my curio cabinet, though!
-Aside from that, always push trash down into the trash can to maximize garbage bag space consumption, and throw paper plates away with the dirty side down, that way you don't get ketchup/sauce on you when you push it down. When the trash bag gets full, and you throw cardboard soda cases away (meaning, on the floor next to the trash can, until you take the trash out.), when tempted to use them as secondary, smaller trash cans, don't throw wet trash into them, or they'll be stuck to the floor when you DO take out the trash.
-The best way to fill a dishwasher is to use dishes. Find reasons to cook and use pots and pans so that you're not stuck without your favorite travel mug when you need to take your coffee to work, because you didn't have a full-enough load to run it. Also, washing dishes is stress-free if you rinse them and put them in the dishwasher immediately after using them. It really sucks trying to scrub caked-on, dried sauce, burned on gravy, etc. If you DO have to do this, and the scratch-pad sponge isn't working, use an already dirty knife to scrape crud off.
-Ramen is awesome. Past Roni is awesome. Instant rice is awesome. Ballpark bun-length hot dogs are awesome. Pre-cooked grilled chicken is awesome for adding to some of the above-listed awesome foods. Bread is awesome for absorbing coffee in your stomach, so that the caffeine doesn't immediately go directly to your bloodstream, making you seem like a spaz. Eggs and sausage are awesome, and really easy to make. Store-brand canned vegetables taste just like any other canned vegetable, and are cheaper.
-Scott toilet paper (The cheap, thin stuff) is WAY better than Charmin', because you get more of it, and most people will use a lot, anyway. That soft stuff just gets torn up anyway.
-If you have a steady paycheck, and you're not completely stretched thin, allot a small portion to a savings account every check so that you pay yourself without even realizing it. Also, buy some CDs--the financial kind, not music or software. They have better interest rates than savings, and you'll be less tempted to use them for fear of the interest penalty from withdrawal. Ignore the savings account and pretend you don't have one until you actually have an emergency, or have enough for a major purchase plan. There's also a website called
Smarty Pig, which is like having a savings account, except that it's specifically for purchase goals, and only lasts until you reach that financial goal.
. But I'm able to do it 
