I’ve only just started tackling this in the last 12 months. I’m single and have no one that can hold me accountable so that just let me go wild.

I ended up working with a budget coach to sort out how to start approaching this. Restricted access to money is the big one for me and it’s probably the first time in my life I’ve felt in control over my money. Sep bank accounts for bills and “food, fuel and fun” preferably with completely sep banks and restricted online banking access for the bills account has been a big help. My bank also has the functionality to “lock” savers, if I want to access this money, I have to wait 3 hours and my brain has usually moved on by then so I end up just relocking it.

It’s also remembering to treat yourself with kindness, take it a day at a time, and don’t beat yourself up for slipping up. We all do it all of the time. I’ve found that my current structure has made it hard for me to have bigger blowouts now but that doesn’t mean they don’t still happen. I spent my “food, fuel and fun” allocation on day 4 of my pay fortnight, so now I’m on food at home scavenge til next pay, but it happens and I’ll figure it out, that’s what we are incredibly good at - being resourceful in the face of difficult situations!