Even more staggering is the $733 billion of credit card debt owned by U.S. consumers coming into this year.<\/p>\n As credit card debt is considered to be costly (and one of the worst kinds of debt), it\u2019s often reviewed first when putting together a financial plan. One overlooked question, however, is what comes next. What if you stuck to your plan and got those pesky credit card balances down to zero? What steps can you take to ensure you don\u2019t rack up those bills again?<\/p>\n Below are my top three recommendations for keeping those credit card balances in check now that you\u2019ve greatly reduced or eliminated your debt.<\/p>\n Cut up those credit cards.<\/strong> As clich\u00e9 as that image has become, this is an essential first step. There are a lot of psychological factors that go into acquiring debt and if you were prone to racking up debt in the past, chances are you are prone to doing it again. Don\u2019t take the risk. Cut up your credit cards and rely on a bank\u00a0debit card. This will ensure you only spend the money you actually have \u2014 not the funds your credit card company generously lets you \u201cborrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Check yourself and remain accountable.<\/strong> Accountability is key when it comes to keeping credit card balances in check. At a minimum, schedule an annual financial check-up\u00a0to build in that accountability. This can be done in a variety of ways \u2014 be it with a family member, a spouse, financial planner, or even yourself. Knowing that this event is on the calendar will hopefully provide you with the needed motivation to stay on track.<\/p>\n Utilize tech tools.<\/strong> With the advent of technology, mobility and online resources, it\u2019s now possible to find solutions to virtually anything using tech tools. Why not leverage technology to get a comprehensive view of your financial well-being? You can do this with the help of a financial professional, or even complimentary sites, such as Mint<\/a> y ReadyForZero<\/a>. Use these tools to track your spending or set budgets, and make it a habit to login in once per week to ensure consistency and results.<\/p>\n While there are plenty of reasons people fall into debt, more often than not, debt begins to spiral out of control because people neglect their finances. They are afraid to look and by the time they get the courage \u2014 it\u2019s too late. Be proactive, take control and use the necessary tools to stay on track of your debt. The less you owe, the more you own, and the better chances of achieving long-term financial success<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Taylor](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Taylor-Schulte_CFP_Headshotweb-278x300.jpg\")
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