I think there's a healthy balance between saving for the future and enjoying your life in the present.
I spend an obscene amount each month on coffee and restaurants, and I enjoy going on lavish vacations and buying the latest technology gadgets like smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Someone who scrimped and saved through the Great Depression would probably think I'm living a wasteful life of opulence, but those are luxuries I can afford because I'm disciplined with my personal finances. I don't have any student debt, I never carry a balance on my credit card, I contribute 10% of my gross salary to my RRSP (and my employer adds an additional 5%), and I maximize my TFSA investments each year. I also have three months' worth of personal expenses saved in a rainy day account. I don't drive a car, and I choose to live in a modest 2BR condo in the Beltline. Despite only being in my early 30s, I already have more retirement savings than most Canadians aged 50+. I'm also paying off my home in an accelerated fashion and will be mortgage-free within four years.
As far as I'm concerned, planning appropriately for retirement doesn't mean you have to live like a miser while you're young. Like others have said, setup automatic RRSP deposits from the moment you get your first ever paycheque. You will never miss the money, and saving for retirement in this manner won't make any impact at all in your ability to enjoy your youth.
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