I try to focus on what really matters. Will that new gadget really make you happy? Will watching that crap tv show, really impact your life? Will socialising pub really make you any more successful? Because, no it won't.
This really pushes me to focus on education, work, and real life projects that effects people. I'm continually planning contingency plans, trying go around obtrusive people and generally anything that gets in my way.
Basically forces me off consumer style thinking, into productive thinking. I also save money like this, because I don't buy those one use gadgets that you use once, then forget about. I used to get those highs, when looking forward to buying something. But now I realise that I will probably buy it, and nothing will change(Social Standing wise). I used to a C grade student, now I'm usually top of the class at university. Motivation and grit is extremely important, not so much intelliegnce.