Some things you just cannot control

I find I have got to stop thinking, that certain people in my life, are going to change their behavior. It's obvious they are choosing not to. Regardless of what bullshit they may promise or say.
That old saying "Words speak louder than actions" truly applies and I am going to finally grab the metaphorical "steering wheel" and take control of certain things that I have overlooked, that I did in order to give my significant other the benefit of the doubt.
It's clear he is not going to change. So I do not care how loud he yells or protests, I am taking complete control over as much of our financial state as I can. I am taking away credit cards, ATM card and he will have to check with me before taking any money out of our account. I am very tired of not being able to have some of the things I need to get done for myself medically, because he is like a kid in a candy store and thinks there is a money tree outside the house.
It's time for this to stop. I gave it my best try for four years and he's made a mess of it. It's odd how he can "see" other men or people, screwing up their relationships, but completely ignores how he's ruined his own.
He is too old to blame his actions on how he was brought up. We have talked about it enough that he should know (and I am sure he does) that the things he's doing are not just self destructive, but destructive on many other levels.
He has an addictive personality. He doesn't seem to be able to do anything that's pleasurable,enjoyable, etc. Without knowing when to stop. That includes gambling, smoking, drinking, whatever.
How I wish I had had the courage to just take the step and leave him when I still could. But I rationalized it by blaming much of his behavior on myself (how stupid is that?) when he's responsible for his own behavior as I am mine?
He still thinks he can "buy" my love. It was a behavior I let start early on in our relationship. But as I began to realize that things weren't going to make me happy, it was too late. He can!t or won't unlearn his old ways of trying to purchase my forgiveness or approval.

I recently saw a question asking if you could either (1) go back in time and change your life or (2) become a young person again, about 75% chose to go back in time and live a different life with different choices. So 3 out of every 4 people you see are living with the regret that they made mistakes in life so big, they would trade that rather than become a young person again. So much for the theory that we all want to be young again.