Maintaining Motivation

BabyStepper

'The main issue is that by consolidating you haven’t had to make the financial sacrifices to achieve that change of mindset (it’s difficult)...'

Exactly this, and that's why consolidation does not work for most people. You need to try and cope with some level of urgency/anxiety about this situation, that's what drove me forward. You have had the weight lifted from your shoulders, you don't sound worried in the slightest, I'd suggest you have no reason at all to change although I sincerely hope you manage it. Good luck.  

enthusiasticsaver

Generally the motivation for getting out of debt and staying out of it comes from knowing how hard it is to clear it in the first place. This is why consolidation does not usually work as it is seen as the easy way out. No sacrifices are made and often people carry on making the same financial mistakes and continuing to overspend. You have your husband to oversee you so that may help motivate you but given you have got into trouble more than once before I would certainly close down future possible lines of credit like overdrafts, credit cards and store cards. I am sceptical that keeping them open will help with a remortgage anyway.
Having a weekly review is a good idea.
Keeping a spending diary so you are forced to write down every spend may also make you think twice. 
Paying off debt and saving in pots for annual expenses, emergency savings at the beginning of the month just after pay day gives you a sense of how much you have available for spending during the month. 
The biggest mindset change is learning to distinguish between need and want. 
I am glad you have managed to come clean to your husband and you have made a plan together to get your finances in order but you have a maternity leave coming up and then childcare costs so presumably reduced income. Make sure you are aware of how much this may affect your plans going forward as this is often when debt occurs and given you already have a substantial amount of debt keeping on top of this is crucial. Maybe keeping a diary is a good way of keeping yourself in check. Good luck. 

gazza217

tlc678910 this is good advice for me too as I am in a similar position and never thought of this.

DayDreamerandGeneralWaster

I agree with being careful to learn the lesson.

When l was 19 l used some inheritance money to pay my credit card off.
 I asked my dad paid my £1200 card debt off when l was 24.

When l moved house in 2003 l borrowed some money with the intention of using a part of it to pay a credit card debt. Spent it on the new house.

Fast forward to 2011 credit card debt was £11k. The interest was more than the minimum payment.

Got it down to £3k a couple of years ago,spent another £1600 on who knows what. Moving between the cards l had, chasing 0% deals, l never learnt my lesson. Until now.

I read somewhere that when you borrow money, you don't borrow from a bank. You borrow from your future self. I could have travelled the world with the money l've wasted. I have probably chucked things away before l had even paid for them. Never, ever again. 

Buller65

Great advice - thanks for sharing