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

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.

If you default on an unsecured debt, you won't lose anything (except points on your credit score).

If you have even a smidgen of doubt that you'll be able to stay away from racking up additional debt, don't do it.

If you are, consolidating at a lower interest rate can help you pay off your debt faster. But if there's even a small chance that you'll spiral back into debt, it's not for you.

Get your friends involved. Let your shopping buddies know that you're on a tight budget, and they can help you out when your willpower starts to weaken at the mall.

Unless you have multiple accounts that you need to negotiate and you think the project is just too big to tackle on your own, you're better off just calling your creditors directly.