As shopping can be habit forming so too can saving. I would live hand to mouth in my younger days...and just couldn't gain traction with saving money. But I made the conscious decision to start putting a small chunk away every week...sometimes I could only manage $5...but I made a steadfast rule to put something away every single week. After a year of doing this I had enough to treat myself...but resisted the urge. Soon my saving became as addictive as spending, and I just kept on saving. I now own my house and am 100% debt free. I have a credit card for emergencies but it is rarely used.

The stress of debt is so all consuming...once one gets into the habit of saving 'Spending because we can' becomes a thing of the past. However...impulse control can often be connected to chemical imbalance, so having a chat with your doctor may be a wise first step.