Delaying gratification or in simple terms, delaying fun is easier said than done.

What it takes to retire early or at least be in a situation where a job loss, or other difficult life situations wouldn't effect you all that much is known for ages. Acting on it is just a totally different thing altogether.

And this is not just restricted to money. Nearly everything is like this. You could have a habit to read everyday, do push ups and eat healthy. You just have to do a little of this everyday. But most people struggle to keep up.

Success is doing boring things. Unfortunately since being boring is unattractive, some people actively avoid succeeding.

Morgan Housel hits this nail on the head in "The Psychology of Money", by talking about these "touchy-feely" aspects of money (which are routinely tossed aside in quantitative analyses... because they're not quantifiable).

It really does come down to "we know what we have to do, but it's too f**ing hard and/or tedious".

Yep, and it's why all the "tricks" to do it are basically how to build good habits (things like -track what you spend, spend 2% less each month).

And it's also why everything seems to coincide; those who can maintain physical fitness often have the wherewithal to maintain financial fitness, etc.

> Delaying gratification or in simple terms, delaying fun is easier said than done.

And arguably not worth doing. Tomorrow may never come -- you could get hit by a bus driving home today.

Studies show that a lot of poor people spend money immediately because their lives are often crazy uncertain and trying to balance and pay debts -- which they may never pay off -- doesn't get them anywhere. Blow the money on a new xbox now, because even if they pay the rent today they probably won't be able to stop eviction next quarter.... but at least they have an xbox, and can take that with them to the next flophouse.