[CyberFonic]

There are no easy answers. First things first, you are better off than most: you have a degree in a good field, a job and live in the UK.

Many of us don't choose to have a landline. Pre-paid mobiles can be an excellent deal in the UK.

Nobody gets rich by spending more than they earn. I am guessing you are being paid reasonably well. More than a recent immigrant, etc. So as painful as it might be, you need to adjust your costs (rent is probably one of the biggest ones) so that you are spending less. As many other HN readers have pointed out, you could move to somewhere with more affordable rents, either commute or find a job closer to home. Do you spend money on eating out? new toys? a car you hardly use? They are all discretionary spends that you could cut back on.

If you are really suffering from burn-out, depression, some illness, then get that attended to urgently.

[pyb]

You're really making a lot of wild guesses here ("paid reasonably well", "toys", "car"). The OP might read this kind of answer as somewhat patronizing.

[stevekemp]

I don't want to take from your good reply, but in the UK having a landline is often a prerequisite of having broadband/internet.

(There are alternatives, but they are atypical.)