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One possibility is to close the accounts. If you are the type of person that cannot have extra money lying around because you will inevitably spend it, than this may be a good option. By closing the account you can no longer spend any money. However, closing an account may hurt your credit score, but if you are spending lots of money on your cards and are unable to pay the money back, closing the accounts sooner rather than later will have fewer negative effects on your credit score.

Another option is to leave your cards at home when you go out. If you don’t have the cards when you go out, there is a greater possibility that you won’t spend money on extra items you don’t need. Instead of relying on your credit cards to pay for things, start using cash. Create a budget you can live on each week and only use that amount in cash. When you run out of money, you know you can’t spend any more.

You can also stick your cards in the freezer or put them in a place that you can’t easily get to, such as a locker or on a high shelf buried in a box. The idea is to take away the convenience of credit cards. One of the many lures of credit cards is that they are too convenient. Until you hit your credit limit you won’t be denied, and it doesn’t immediately affect your bank account. The problem is that many people cannot pay the full amount owed on the credit cards, so they begin to make minimum payments and accrue interest. This can begin a vicious cycle of constantly struggling to pay off your debt.

If leaving the cards out of your sight won’t work, then another possibility is to cut them up. Using a shredder or scissors make sure to cut the card so it cannot be put back together.

Learning how to stop using credit cards can be difficult but beneficial. Have you ever calculated how much money you would save in interest if you paid off your credit card? For many it can be thousands of dollars each year. If you can find a way to stop using your credit cards and start paying them off, you will be amazed at how much debt you can eliminate. Many people find it is better start with smaller credit card debt, because you can pay smaller amounts off quickly; other people believe you should begin with higher interest credit cards because you will save more money in interest.

The best way to stop using credit cards is by finding the best method for you. Each person is different; therefore there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The good news is that there are quite a few options.