The problem with any line of thinking like this is that this deals with the core human nature of self agency versus pre desposition to certain things. While it

The problem with any line of thinking like this is that this deals with the core human nature of self agency versus pre desposition to certain things. While it seems like common logic to someone that has the ability to live cheaply and save money, the more important thing is someone emotional response in this situation - that person actually feels good about saving. Something like this is not intrinsic to human development, and is usually acquired through the persons upbringing. So when a person that makes little money decides to buy a high end smartphone, its not because they are doing it out of stupidity, they are doing it because they need to feel the same positive emotion that the former person feels. And as long as they can get by day to day, they are not incentivized to make any changes. The discussion to enact change needs to start with answering this question - how do you effectively "reprogram" someone to value delayed gratification over immediate gratification?