Reply #5: The best thing I ever did was cut up the cards..... [View All]

[AnneD]

Did it 5 years ago and haven't missed them.

The trick to weaning off them-save at least 1,000 in an emergency savings account. There has never been a minor emergency I couldn't cover and that kept me from sliding back. I paid them off small to large and will pay the last off in January. I negotiated reduced payouts, lower interest rates-you name it. I will be totally debt free by next year. The burden lifted off your shoulders is unimaginable. So much of your money is siphoned off via interest rate payments. Small wonder we are drowning in debt. They want us to be debt slaves.

My debit card is good for all my needs (car rental, online purchases, etc) and I give myself better interest rates....LIKE ZERO PERCENT.