How to Hide Your Credit Cards
Posted By :Elena Difiore
Posted At : Tuesday, Jul 27, 2010
Can’t afford that new 70″ flat screen? Charge it now and pay for it later! After all, everyone else is doing it.
With their overwhelming simplicity and accessibility, credit cards have become the financial crutch of far too many Americans. Breaking free from your prison of purchases starts by recognizing the underlying emotions that fuel your desire to spend. Don’t think you have enough will power to simply say no? For all the impulsive shoppers out there, here are a few tips on how to protect your wallet from yourself.
One option is to go the old-fashioned route and simply cut up your cards. If they’re in pieces, there’s obviously no way you can use them. However, there’s no doubt that credit cards can be a necessary evil. Whether you’re booking a week’s stay at a hotel, or enrolled in some form of automatic bill pay, credit cards can serve a beneficial purpose, so cutting them up isn’t always the best option.
A classic remedy for credit card abusers is the ice block approach. Take your credit card and place it in a large Tupperware container or old ice cream carton. Next, fill the container with water and place it in the freezer. This way, you still have your credit card as an option in case of an emergency, but you’re much less likely to splurge on a new pair of shoes if you have to pick away at an icicle for hours on end.
A similar approach is burying your credit card in a shoebox in your backyard. Just like freezing your card, burying it in your yard acts as a deterrent to emotional or impulsive spending. If you want to use your card, you have to take the time to dig it up, which gives you time to ponder the legitimacy, or lack thereof, of your purchase.
For a creative, unique way to hide your card, try placing it in a plastic sealable bag and filling the rest of the bag with some form of thick substance, such as peanut butter. Everyone knows how hard it is to clean peanut butter off of anything, so hopefully having to clean it off your card will make you think twice before rushing off to the mall.
Another option is hiding your credit card in your attic. However, keep in mind, this method is pointless if you have an easily accessible attic. But for those who seldom, if ever, go into their attic, this could be the perfect solution.
Looking for a more formal approach? Place your credit card in a safety deposit box at your bank. Not only will you have to drive to your bank if you want to use your card, but the hoops and red tape usually involved with accessing safety deposit boxes will force you to seriously evaluate your decision.
When all is said and done, you are the only one who can help yourself escape the destructive cycle of credit card debt. Breaking free from the clutches of excessive consumption starts by taking responsibility for your actions and putting a freeze on your spending, figuratively or literally.
