



AIO for asking my wife to make changes to her spending habits?
Context. My wife has admitted to having issues with her spending habits. However, she also often says that she doesn't see any issue with maxing out credit cards and just opening new ones. She doesn't care about interest rates or minimum payments.
Since the beginning of 2025 she has created about $20,000 in credit card debt. Her rational has always been that if the family needs something then it needs to be bought. no matter what.
She recently went down to working 1 day a week because of mental health struggles (She takes meds for depression already so adding more on her plate isn't great).
I make $30 an hour, and get full health insurance for my family at no cost. We should not be struggling like we are.
I have tried to talk with her many times about this and she always says she will do better but we end up here again. I feel bad for bringing up getting different bank accounts or taking access to spending away. Those feel like things you do with a child.
I'm just at a loss and don't know what to do.
Edit for more context - The things she bought at Target were protein coffee, bandages, nail polish, lotion, sandals for my daughter, a dish, shirts for my daughter. We have two kids, 11 and 9 year olds. They could stay home alone during the summer, but we're reluctant to do it more than once a week. Child care costs would make her working almost pointless. I've asked her to sell things around the house and she's said she would, but hasn't started yet.
Edit 2 - We have tried budgeting, tried envelopes, tried pretty much everything. She just doesn't stick to them. That's why I suggested taking her access to money away. Even when she agrees to a budget, she just blows past it.
Edit 3 - She is already seeing a therapist. They have discussed her spending a bit, but not much. They mostly focus on her building positive self talk and working through her depression.