photo credit: danesparza

You probably already know that one of the most important steps in improving your financial situation is getting away from your dependence on credit cards. Unfortunately, if you are already using your credit card for necessities every month, it’s easier to talk about getting rid of your credit cards than it is to actually do it.

When you use your credit card for regular purchases in order to get through the month, the payments can start to cut into the cash that you would use the next month. After you’ve used all of your cash to pay the credit card bill from the previous month, you often feel like you don’t have a choice other than using your credit card to get through the current month. Then the whole process starts all over again. How will you ever get out from under it?

Now, you may not like the answer. It isn’t fun or easy. You just need to start a month-long moratorium on spending. If you could get through one month without using your credit card, you’d find yourself getting out of the vicious credit card cycle and starting to get ahead of your expenses. Here are a few key points to keep in mind as you push through that month:

1. Pay the regular bills. Your month without spending does not include things you have to have pay like your utility bills, rent payments, or basic (very basic) food. If you lapse on these payments, you’ll just find yourself in hot water with your landlord or utility companies. You won’t be any better off at the end of your month.

2. Remember that you only have to endure this for a month. Cutting out all spending for a month isn’t an act that you could keep up over the long haul, and no one expects you to. This is a short-term step to get you over a hurdle. Keep repeating, “It’s only a month.” You can start adding small indulgences back into your life in thirty days.

3. Avoid temptation. Don’t go shopping with your friends this month. You’ll feel awful dejected when you’re friends are treating themselves to nice things. Or, worse, you’ll find something on sale and convince yourself that you have to buy it because it’s such a good deal. Guys, this means you, too. Stay away from the grill store, the sporting goods store, or whatever store that usually causes you to get carried away.

4. Celebrate when the month is over. You need a reward to keep in mind while you work your way through your month of no spending. Now, don’t get carried away and blow all of your hard work on the first day of the next month. Just treat yourself to one of the things that you’ve been missing over the month such as going to the movies or buying a pizza.

Going a whole month without buying anything won’t be easy. Once you’ve finished, however, you’ll feel great. You’ll find that you’ve quickly jump-started yourself on that path to independence from credit cards. Who knows? You may even decide that you don’t need all of those things you used to buy.