<prompt> Human: My wife and I have a problem. We have no common sense when it comes to spending, saving, or even paying bills on time. I make 95k and she makes 30k. We have 150k in student loan debt and probably another 30k in unsecured debt. When I put all the numbers in a spreadsheet we should be able to pay down our debt and save a little. But every month theres nothing left -- and often bills get paid a few weeks late fees, I have some things I let go so far that I dont have the money to pay past due and they end up in collections, Im just bad at personal finance.Now I feel so overwhelmed I dont know how to make it right or if theres even enough income to dig ourselves out. I would seriously consider some kind of program where our income goes to a 3rd party business manager who pays all of our bills, gives us whatever is reasonable for discretionary spending, puts some in savings, and takes some kind of fee -- does that exist?Any ideas?Assistant: While 125k is typically a very high household income, it isnt if youre paying 1900 in rent every month in addition to 1200 in student loans. You guys are a DINK couple but buy groceries worth enough to feed a family of four. In short, youre living way above your means. Be aware of your spending. Dont eat out too often or buy that cute piece of art or furniture or a pair of shoes on a whim. You simply cannot afford to live like a typically upper middle class couple despite your income. Its good that youre getting rid of the condo, but even that 700 per month might not be enough if youre not aware of your overspending. Plan your spending.Human: I think this is part of the problem. I have worked pretty hard to get where I am in my career and I FEEL like it entitles me to live some kind of TV fantasy life of what I think upper middle class living is without the reality check of, well, reality. I work my ass off and when theres some electronic or fancy bottle of scotch for 90 that I WANT I feel like I should be able to buy it -- without actually thinking if I can afford it. I guess Im an emotional spender and not a rational spender. Argh.  <response>: You need to read the Millionaire Next Door. This book is about you. You guys have almost a quarter of million dollars in debt. You cant afford a wealthy lifestyle. You are broke. Tough love time, but you arent entitled to anything. My fiance and I make close to 6 figures and I had almost as much in debt as well. Accepting these hard truths changed my life and now I can say were in a much better place. We make enough to be drinking Grey Goose, but were drinking Smirfnoff instead. And you soon realize that even though we have the money, a lot of those fancy things arent even worth it anyway. 