about money? I think I probably am...

[Heartbroken2007]

I'm single, late 20s and renting in London, on a good wage.

After paying rent and bills, paying off a good chunk of my credit card and a loan each month (my own fault I know), gym membership, phone bill etc and for (some very much needed therapy) I have about £550 a month left for everything else (so all food/toiletries, any going out or new clothes/make up etc) I don't drink or smoke.

I know on paper I'm am stupidly lucky, it's my fault I need to put £££s a month towards paying down my debt, I'm just feeling a bit blue tonight about friends with much much higher disposable income who can afford big holidays abroad (America, Japan etc) and have savings etc and like I've failed for my age.

Please give me a gentle virtual slap and remind me I'm lucky.

I'm guessing, but is there a degree of "I'm earning this much, this is the lifestyle I should be able to have on this earnings", which of course, in London can mess with your head very badly!

I hope you can find some of the excellent suggestions above, a route to cutting down in places that you won't feel the difference (much). I agree about reconsidering the gym - my actual suggestion is that you consider how often you actually use it, consider that we're coming into the summer when you can do much more outside, and see if you can cancel the gym membership for perhaps 5 or 6 months with a promise to review it in the autumn and decide then if you actually "need" it.

An evening job possibly which you bang all the money from that away for savings/holidays?

Travel in London is not cheap. A night out / dinner can easily cost £50-£60 so while £500 a month might seem a lot it doesn't go very far in London if you want to go out and do things.

There are lots of free things you can do, also groupon often have good deals for meals / cocktails. Also some places offer free exercise classes or look at moveGB

London also has far far more free things to do than any other area of the country.

Someone suggested a second job - the OP says she's on a decent salary, so it's fairly likely that she's not finishing at 5 or 6pm or whatever her contract says but is working late at least sometimes. Making it hard to fit in another job in the evenings.

Bus, bike or walk instead of tube. Pay more off credit cards, you soon notice the difference

Ditch the gym and therapy and start walking more instead (saves on travel costs, too) and doing HIIT workouts at home. Or buy a used spin bike (I picked up one practically new for 60 quid). Focus on free or low cost hobbies that involve exercise, like getting to a museum for a tour. Paying your debt off will make you feel 100% better! It's a FAB feeling to be debt free. It helps your mental health loads. Use a mindfulness app on your phone.