Published on 08/28/2008

Charging too much credit card debt? Free tips on how to stop credit card charges, plus free computer software to track expenses.

Get Out of Debt. Free Tips to Stop Credit Card Charges.

Convenience. That is often the main problem for many of us. It's too easy to whip out a credit card, and often we will without hesitation whether or not we'll have the money to payoff the charge in full during the grace period. To best combat credit card debt, we need to tackle its main benefit and our main weakness... credit card convenience.

Free tips to stop credit card debt:

Close out credit cards. If you simply cannot resist the urge to charge, close them out. Call your card issuer and request account closure. Of course your credit card company will try to keep you as a customer and may even offer you a lower rate, a higher credit limit, more perks and benefits, and maybe even a 0 introductory offer to balance transfer all your credit card debt. You'll have to be firm. But also be aware, closing credit card accounts can harm your credit score (see below).
Cut up credit cards. If; for whatever reason, you don't want to close out credit card accounts, another option is to destroy the cards. As mentioned above, closing credit card accounts can lower credit scores. The reason is because closing credit card accounts lessens your 'available credit limit'. So to protect your score, you could keep credit card accounts active and open, but destroy the cards to prevent you from using them.
Keep out of reach. If you don't have them, you can't use them. Leave them at home, safely and securely locked away.
Do the math. Each time you think about adding a new charge, calculate credit card interest you'll pay if you repay over months or years instead of paying off the charge in full.

Free computer software to track expenses.