The initial step to "losing" debt is to stop spending so much. The effortlessness of swiping a credit card makes it easy to forget how much hard currency you're paying. You can spend hundreds of dollars with nary a glance at the total -- until the credit card bill arrives with the real story. By then, the damage is done, unless the store you splurged at has a lenient return policy.

If you struggle to curb your shopping cravings, put your credit cards in the freezer to cool off and start paying with cash. Having to hand over greenbacks helps most people spend less.

Moreover, when your wallet's empty, the time it takes to find an ATM may be enough for your consumer craving to pass.