People who temporarily freeze their spending usually find that the best way to stay the course is to steer clear of opportunities to spend money:

• Don't read the ads that come in the Sunday paper.

• Don't stop at outlet malls when you travel.

• Dispose of all the catalogs you have in your possession.

• Call all the companies that send you catalogs and have them both remove your name from their mailing lists and stop selling your name to other companies.

• Don't visit Internet sites that sell products.

• Don't go to the shopping-mall food court for a quick meal.

• Don't meet friends for an afternoon at the mall or any other store.

• Don't go window shopping at an appliance, music, or computer store.

• Discontinue any music or book clubs, even if you have to buy your remaining required purchases to do so.

• When grocery shopping, don't inadvertently wander into the consumer-goods section of the store.

• Send gift certificates instead of actual purchases as gifts, so that you don't have to go to a store or browse a catalog or Web site.

The following sections will help you freeze your spending a little less painfully.