The other thing that I do now is work out how many hours work it will take me to pay for what I want. 90% of the time I then decide that I dont need it that much.

Hi,

Don't think anyone else has mentioned this site, but apologies if I've missed it.

A colleague pointed me in the direction of Money Saving Expert when I was trying to budget for forthcoming wedding - they also have excellent sections on their chat forum for problem debt and loaaaaaaaaaaaads of money saving tips.  Worth a look perhaps?  They also have many people in much worse situations than you, which let's face it is always gratifying in life, isn't it?;)

The advice I'd give from my budgeting year (which comes to an end soon, hurray!) is skinflinting can be good fun if you treat it as sport.  It's amazing what you can get free or cheap with a bit of effort.  Could you possibly do a part-time job evenings or weekends, or do you have a room you could put a lodger in? - if you set yourself a year where life wouldn't be much fun and you'd be working a lot, but would be much clearer and able to enjoy financial stability at the end of it, it may be worthwhile.

Best of luck,

M.

there is an citizens advice online  here
kind regards,
Linda