No, seriously, put them away for at least six months. Put them in a safe place that's hard to get to, such as a safe-deposit box at the bank (which will probably cost around $20 per year, an amount that's worth spending if it keeps you from getting further into debt). The farther away the credit cards are from you, the better.

For six months, pay for all of your day-to-day purchases with cash and pay your bills with a check. When you're shopping for purchases that are allowed — such as groceries and toiletries — write out a list before you go, estimate how much you'll need, and take no more than $10 over that amount.

When you're not supposed to be making any purchases, limit the amount of cash you carry around to $5 and a few quarters. That will allow you to pay for parking if you need to, but not lunch or a flat-screen TV!