The funny thing about shiny things is that after you have them for a month or two, they suddenly don't seem so shiny anymore. But the bills the shiny thing generated will keep coming for years after the shine has worn off.

My wife and I had the same issues for a lot of our married lives (22 years and counting) and it's only been in the last several years we've really gotten over it. Now we have a family budget, we stick to it, and we doggedly pursue net-worth growth every month, either through extra debt payments or savings contributions.

The best thing I can recommend for anyone with debt and spending issues is to read David Chilton's books, The Wealthy Barber and The Wealthy Barber Returns. There's a lot of practical wisdom there. And I like David because he lives what he preaches.