Unfortunately for me I had to learn through pain and consequence. I had to suffer a lot of pain and hardships to appreciate my money. I got married at age 20, we have been married for 23 years. In the beginning I didnt even know how to balance a checkbook or that credit cards were not "free money". As I got older and settled in as a grownup my husband went back to school and changed careers and I slowly descended into BPII hell until I could no longer work. The economy crap that started in 2008 nearly killed us and we are finally at a point where we have our nose above water, so, barely making it. I hope that it gets better. I used to be more impulsive with spending but I have three kids now so I have reigned it in. But it took 23 years now to get to this point and a lot of tears.