Thanks, Kerrie-Ann. I know exactly how your friend feels. It does feel like "babysitting" sometimes. I wish I could go back to the days when I just assumed that our cash flow was ok and didn't worry about it, but if my wife starts to lose control of her spending again I need to know it before it becomes serious. I too hated to cut my wife's access to the credit cards and periodically check her credit report, but I neither of us saw any other choice.

By keeping an eye on things, we've caught a few "relapses" before they became a real problem, and she got the help she needed to deal with them. I've learned that the best approach is to meet the issue head on, knowing that there will be that initial arugment when I bring it up. It's not fun, and it's often very discouraging, but it's worked for the last few years. I just have to take it one day at a time, I think, and face the fact that it will continue to be an issue for us. If I can do that, I think we'll be able to keep things under control. Keeping my frustration level down is the hardest part.

Thanks again for sharing her story. It helps to know that others in the same situation see the options the same way that I do. Before finding these forums, I couldn't hlep but wonder sometimes if I was handling it the right way or not.

Rick