lillac, zero fat yoghurt has an awful lot of sugar to compensate for the lack of taste once the fat is removed. :)
cheerfulyank, I found that having separate pots for separate things helps. For example: my salary gets paid into account A. I have a standing order for all the bills from account A towards account B.( I've called it 'the bills account'-genius!)
The bills are non negociable, they must be paid. So I make sure I have enough in account B. I never take money out of it, is has no overdraft, nothing.
On the same day I get paid, my account C gets fed as well. It's my non negociable savings account. I am working towards a 6 months salary worth of savings. It's for redundancy/long term sickness etc. Basically, my safety net.
Once B and C are fed, I am now left with food and others money.
The week before the payday I use the freezer meals I batch cooked before. The week after I get paid, I 'eat the cupboards', aim to finish jars and tins etc. The two weeks in between payday: first week I do a big shop, the second one I top up, more or less. I meal plan.
I am on a mission to save £800 a month this year. I won't do it next year, I'll have a really really nice holiday, but this year I need to save. I don't have £800 spare at the end of each month, so I do overtime. A lot of overtime!
Also, checking your account very often, setting sms reminders/alerts from the bank also helps.
I've only been doing all of the above for about a year, I suppose. Before that I lumped everything in the joint account and didn't mind what was going on financially, it was my H's remit. And then I took the reins.