Can't stop spending - help!

[PoesyCherish]

I have serious issues surrounding money. I struggle with mental health and when I'm feeling down I end up massively overspending. I think ooh I could do with insert unnecessary item here and it's almost constant at the moment. In the last few months I've spent thousands on:
Two cars - used to car share but started a new job so DP and I had to buy a second car, which I then wrote off within a month when I was involved in a car crash hence buying two cars
Then of course two lots of car insurance for the above cars
Work shoes for the new job as I previously wore trainers but for the new job I wasn't allowed to
New work clothes
Copious amounts of clothes for our holiday
Hiking rucksack
Clothes and a hiking rucksack for DSD
Suitcase for DSD
Prescription sun glasses
Toiletries from Lush

DP and I both earn a decent amount but lately I've been spending more than I'm earning which is isn't going to end well. It took me 3 years to pay off my student overdraft because I kept overspending. Realistically speaking I shouldn't have even had to use my overdraft as my parents weren't working so I got the full amount of student loans and grants plus I worked for a year too as I did a year in industry. I made excuses about spending so much such as being in a relationship with and living with a cocklodger who didn't work who spent copious amounts on takeaways, pints and even once a brand new ps4. But the truth is I could have reigned in the spending a bit by not buying all those coffees or snacks or other random bits and bobs or even living with him instead of house sharing (which would've been way cheaper!)

Anyway, this can't go on! Has anyone successfully managed to reign it in and if so how?!

I have never spent much on big things but still ended up in debt (£7k on Credit card, £1250 overdraft) and in two years have got it down to £3k on credit card and overdraft cleared.

It has been really boring unfortunately.

• paying ALL my yearly bonus into my CC debt

• Making lunch at home instead of eating out
• Saying no to big nights out (our nights out in cocktail bars are now spent having drinks at home with friends or the local pub).
• Not spending any money on anything I don't need which means no new clothes, no new makeup unless I really need it, no splashing out on new skincare from Space NK.

- I've learned to cut my own hair (growing it long so it's been ok so far. Will get a proper cut soon).

• Budget the weekly shop and my partner who earns more than me pays for it most of the time.

It's surprising how much little things add up! I'm saving £150 on lunch alone (I work in Central London).

It's not fun but I'm used to this now and I kind of like living more frugally. Good luck!

How do you spend? If online then delete your card details from all websites and unsubscribe from all websites. Put your credit cards somewhere inaccessible, in a ziplock bag with water, put that in the freezer.

For day to day spending use cash. It causes a physical reaction in the brain that doesn’t happen with card payments.

Toiletries- lay everything out on the bed and work out how long it will last. Don’t buy anymore until it has run out.

Clothes, can anything be sent back? Again, get everything out, and make a list. Refer to this list when you feel tempted to buy more clothes.

Going forward buy toiletries from the supermarket with your groceries. Decide what you need/want to spend on groceries at the beginning of the month. I set up a separate bank account for groceries so that a) I don’t go over my set amount and b) the grocery funds don’t get spent on fripperies.

Make sure you are on the cheapest/best deals on all utilities.

The best thing would be to sit down with DP and write a budget. That does depend on him being onboard and both of you sticking to the budget. Don’t pull figures out of the air though, list your bills and go through bank/CC statements to see exactly where your money is going.
Include everything in the budget from your morning coffee to Christmas presents and insurance policies.