I am preparing myself for a deflation of lifestyles as well. Once my loans are completely paid, my basic needs (food, shelter and related, public transport and internet access) will be covered by 40% of my income. The rest, currently, is spent on accelerating payment towards loans from friends and establishments. Will be done in 3 more months at most, which feels great. Though my closet could do a bit of a refreshment, I have put together an inventory which I will tick off and be done with it for the next couple years. My early next year, 45-50% of income should be able to go to savings.
What I have found most useful is to create a list of NEEDS and WANTS. Need is what is essential to your mental well-being. Clothes, good quality coffee (though this is a luxury for most, i count it as food and do not cheap out on it. I just don't like bad quality food nor coffee), shelter, a basic telecommunication device.
Wants are stuff like a certain kind of telephone beyond the basics, a certain kind of earphones, -sunglasses, -mechanical keyboards, etc. You see the sentiment.
Make an inventory of what you actually need, and what you desire. Then temper your desire. Sure, I do spend money on this or that once every little while, but that is a treat and a gift now, not the baseline.
