A game changer for me was actually tracking what I was spending my money on. 5$ a day in snacks might not seem like a great expense, but when you add it up and it amounts to 150$ a month you start spending different.
I am a huge fan of "paying yourself first". Its something that I learned from Robert Kiyosaki, and I try to live by that motto.
RE: How can you take control of your finances?