Hey Akenaton and Ivor a useful little exercise to go through:

1. List all the things that you have spent your money on during the last year.

2. Out of that list detail in Column A - Essentials that I needed.

3. Out of that list detail in Column B - Additional "essentials" that I purchased because advised or compelled to do by outside influences (Evil Corporate Capitalists, Advertising Agencies, "Peer" Pressure).

4. Out of that list detail in Column C - Non-essential, or luxury items purchased purely because YOU wanted them.

5. Out of that list detail in Column D - Non-essential, or luxury items that you purchased because advised or compelled to do by outside influences.

I've done it - Guess what you two:

Column A made up the bulk, food, clothes, medical expenses, biggest item was house repairs.

Column B was empty

Column C was expenses involved in going to festivals and holiday.

Column D was empty.

Let me know how you got on with it.