tajk, we have so much in common!!!! Trading one addiction for another happened with me too. When I quit crack, I started drinking, when I quit drinking, I started smoking...it goes on. I also struggle with impulsive spending and I have had an eating disorder since I was a teen. I have found a lot of help in our eating disorder forum here on PC--you might want to check it out. It is alway nice to know that there are others going through the same thing as you are.

As for the eating--a few months ago I finished a 23 month long diet. I dropped 40 lbs! I tell you this because I want you to have hope that things can get better.

The most import thing for me, concerning the weight was to set small goals for myself. I had weekly goals and monthly goals. I allowed myself one dinner and one breakfast a week where I could eat anything I wanted. That made me feel as if I was not totally denying myself the good things. Boy, did I look forward to those things!

As for the spending, I live alone so I can't hand over the finances to anyone. I try to keep things under control. I allow myself one splurge a month. I think about what I am going to splurge on for the month--sometimes it is a couple books or a pair of pants or something like that. It helps me to feel like I am not completely eliminating my "feel good" spending.