It's definitely hard. I am currently saving up for a yellow gold diamond tennis bracelet (they are not really cheap. If it is not heavily used, you can't really find any under 2k, or maybe two hundred dollars less than that.) But I have wanted one my whole life, to be honest and just bought other things along the way like OP was saying because it is difficult to save up. So far I am remaining dedicated to my goal, but along the way I am seeing other things as well that are less expensive & more attainable that I also want like ohh I can get 1/2 carat diamond studs, I can get this ring, etc. But then I remind myself that while I would be happy for a short time with a lesser item, it would also come with a slight level of disappointment because the level of funds that you have saved up for your item were now spent on something else so that you know inside that you might never reach that big ticket item.
It's also hard for me because I have to pick one item very carefully--I am probably going to back to working PT after the next year and a half, as right now I am doing FT and then some for personal reasons (blasting out the last few semesters of my degree as I went back to college, and with all the fieldwork for my major it is easier to work PT instead of FT and then overtime too. Then after that is finished, I can go back to FT. Went back to school after many years.), so once I start going back to PT work my expenses will be paid for, but I really won't be able to buy a ton of super nice things anymore. So this bracelet would be my last real indulgence for maybe 2 and a half years, or 3 years. The little voice in my head is telling me to pick my item very carefully because after this last item there may be no more for a year or two, or maybe even three year. But I really think I will always be happy with a diamond tennis bracelet and I should stick to that.