Even in the days of the tightest credit in 2008, HELOCs [ home equity line of credit ] and home equity loans were being made.

You won't be caught off guard and you won't feel guilty, because you'll be spending money that you've allocated for the occasion.

You can have a do-over starting today. But you have to get over the feeling that it's too late

Don't let the fact that you're spending time getting organized result in late fees on your credit card bills.

Pay cash. For some reason, it's harder for people psychologically to part with their cash than it is to swipe a card. Maybe it's the act of physically seeing the money change hands, or maybe it's because you don't want to break a $20 for a $2 cup of coffee.

In about one-third of credit card consolidations, within a short period of time, the cards come back out of the wallet, and in no time at all, they're charged back up. Then you're in an even worse position, because you have the credit card debt and the consolidation loan to worry about. You're in a hole that's twice as deep - and twice as steep.

One thing I want to make clear: You never want to hide from your debts. It doesn't work.