How to break addiction to credit cards

This post comes from Rob Berger at partner blog The Dough Roller.

Without a doubt, the hardest part of getting out of credit card debt is avoiding new debt.

Our society has grown so accustomed to using credit cards that we use them without even thinking about it. The charges pile up each month to the point where we can't afford to pay off our cards in full. As our debt rises, we become even more dependent on credit cards just to get to the next paycheck.

To break this cycle, we'll have to change many of our behaviors, attitudes and expectations. And the first step is to understand how we got into credit card debt in the first place.

How did we get here?

Not everyone sinks into credit card debt the same way. For example, some used cards to pay for medical bills, while others used them to take a cruise. Some used plastic to get by after a job loss, while others went into debt eating out and buying jewelry.

The point of looking at your history with credit cards is not to beat yourself up or to blame others. It's so we can make the best plan moving forward. If you can be objective about how you spend and where your areas of weakness are, you can implement focused changes to reverse the damage. Here are some common examples:

• Big purchases. Some people do a great job controlling day-to-day spending, only to succumb to big purchases they can't afford. Here, the key is creating a savings plan for big purchases and waiting until you have the money to pay for them.
• Everyday purchases. For some, credit card debt is a result of spending a little bit more each month than they make. It's not one type of expense; it's a little bit of everything. If that describes your situation, better budgeting is going to be critical to getting control of your debt.
• Medical expenses. Health care costs are the No. 1 cause of personal bankruptcies. Without health insurance, an illness can plunge anybody into substantial credit card debt, because of both medical bills and lost employment. Here, the focus will be securing health insurance (and employment if that's a problem) and then dealing with the debt.
• Emergencies. Some do well controlling spending but get sidelined with emergencies. The key under these circumstances will be to build a better emergency fund.

No matter what your circumstances are, the key is to objectively evaluate how you got into credit card debt. Understanding that will help you figure out what you need to do to get out of debt. Post continues below.

Now what?

Now, let's cover some ideas to help you break the plastic habit. But keep in mind that not all of these ideas will apply to everyone. That's why it's so important to understand what got you into debt.

Cut up your cards. If the debt you have accumulated is a result of frequent dinners out, clothes shopping, lovely lattes and other impulse purchases, cut up your cards. If you can't swipe it, you can't buy it. Cutting up your cards is an act of determination and commitment much like ridding your cupboards of junk food when you are serious about losing weight. 

I recommend cutting the cards rather than canceling the accounts. Canceling your accounts can have a negative impact on your credit. (Estimate your credit score for free.)

If you can't bring yourself to cut up your cards, there are other options. If you find yourself using plastic to buy lunch at work every day, don't take your credit cards to work. In fact, you can leave your cards home all the time. Whatever it takes.

Build an emergency fund. Your debt may be the result of unexpected or ongoing medical expenses. Unplanned and unexpected repairs can also be devastating to your finances. Rather than relying on credit cards for unexpected expenses, build an emergency fund. This is essential regardless of your financial picture.

For those deep in credit card debt, I believe you should save an amount equal to one month of expenses before applying extra money to your debt. While there is no guarantee this amount of money will cover all emergencies, it should cover the most common types of emergencies, like car repairs. (See: "Guide to building an emergency fund.")

Start tracking expenses. Sorry to keep comparing weight loss plans to your finances, but the similarities are so obvious. Both can be signs of impulsive or compulsive behavior, and both require a great deal of discipline to reverse the mentality. That said, the most successful weight loss programs incorporate a food log.

Visual awareness has a very positive impact on altering habits. There are great ways to track your expenses to see where your money is going. You can set up a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and enter your income along with each and every expense. Don't forget to put in the expenses that may not show up every month, such as auto insurance, vacations and gifts. Infrequent bills need to be broken down to a monthly amount so they don't take you by surprise. Save your receipts and enter the information on a regular basis.

Another option is to use one of the great online tools. My favorite budgeting tool is You Need a Budget. While it's not free, it is, in my opinion, by far the best budgeting tool available today.

More on The Dough Roller and MSN Money:

• How to lower the interest rate on your credit cards
• American Express prepaid card review
• How to roll over a 401k into an IRA
• Can you beat your state's average credit score?
• 4 good cards for people with bad credit
• Do I have too much debt?