The Emergency Only Credit Card

If you like to carry a credit card with you all the time for emergencies, but find yourself tempted to use it for spontaneous purchases try this little trick. Get a small envelope. Take a red pen and on the front write "FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY" in big letters. Underneath write "If I don't have the cash, I can't afford it".  Slip the credit card in the envelope, seal it and put it at the back of your purse or wallet.  When you are tempted to use that emergency card for anything other than a real emergency you'll see the warning, in your own handwriting and hopefully it will be enough to encourage you to put the envelope away.