First of all there is more going on in this"relationship" then a wife going nut's shopping!!! I truly believe that when you are married that the money brought into the marriage belongs to both partner's, but when one is spending like the queen of England it is time to put your foot down.There is many way's to control this issue,first of all cancel the credit card's,keep 1 or 2 card's for emergency only with a very low credit line.I personal feel that this problem is not only the wife's but the husband's as well since this has been going on for 24 yr's!And what have they learned their children that it is OK to spend but not earn?There are no free Ride's in this world and you can have all the money in the world but it won't bring you happiness.They need serious counseling but in my personal option there is no hope for these 2, they are either going to keep living like this till the bankruptcy or the very bitter DIVORCE.