How to balance saving for the future with living your life today

Q: I'm 26, working in tech, and I make what most people would call a really decent salary, especially for my age. But I always feel stuck between dating and spending time with friends and saving enough to buy a place of my own someday. If I go for dinner and drinks with a date, or catch up with my buddies at a restaurant, I feel like I'm falling behind on my savings goal. If I skip it to save and stay on track, I feel like I'm missing out on living my life. And something always comes up, life ex