Yep, I am really cautious with money too - or rather, J have my budgets down to a T. I put x amount of money aside each week for "leisure" for the family, it could be for eating out or a day trip. It's not much in the grand scheme of things, but it's the budget I stick to. I put y aside for kid's clothes, shoes and haircuts and I out z aside for all the monthly bills. I then pay a into my tax account, b into a savings account and anything I make over and above that gets put aside for weeks I don't hit my target so I know I have some cash put by.

Everything gets recorded and everything is accounted for. I work too hard to blow it all on designer bags and overpriced clothes like I did when I first started and had no idea what to do with it all. Fancy watches were not the way.

I think the best thing would be for you to make a budget system so you know how much you can afford to spend in certain areas - home repairs, kids' beds and clothes for yourself are not luxury items, they are necessary. Designer bags and £200 bottles of champagne are luxury items. A bit of perspective is required here.