I stared at our credit-card bill in amazement. Did I really spend that much money last month? I recognized several transactions for Christmas gifts, but I didn't remember making all those purchases. As I scanned the itemized statement, I realized some things I'd bought I hadn't even used yet! Other purchases were for eating out—the food was gone before it was paid for. Farther down the statement, I recognized many of the vendors' names as the titles of mail-order catalogs I love to browse. I guess I was doing more than browsing.

I sighed as I remembered my New Year's resolution: Spend less money. Luke 12:48 reminded me, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded." Although our family wasn't rich, we did have more than many people in this world, and I knew God expected me, as the bill-payer in our family, to manage our money responsibly. I realized I'd disappointed him by being a poor steward of the resources he'd given me.

I decided right then things had to change. I had to pay off this credit-card bill. But the deeper issue was my need to change a lifetime of habits. How could I put a stop to uncontrolled spending?

Through conversations with other women and time in prayer, I've discovered several basic yet effective strategies to get my spending under control. To be honest with you, it's not always easy. I'm still often tempted to spend with abandon. But by consistently focusing on the following techniques, I've been able to curb excess spending and get on the path to reasonable financial management.

Remove Temptation
First Corinthians 10:13 tells us God always provides a way of escape when we're faced with temptation. Coming to terms with the truth of this verse showed me one the most effective ways to stop spending: If I remove the temptation to spend, my money's more likely to stay in the bank where it belongs!

For me, that "way of escape" meant tossing out catalogs before I looked through them. I avoided eBay on the Internet and blocked the home shopping channels from my television as well—no more flipping through and "accidentally" seeing something I just had to have.

Kathy, a pastor's wife and mom of three, told me, "When Mark and I first entered the ministry and I knew we wouldn't have a lot of money, I decided I'd never go shopping just to look." Since following this policy, Kathy's been able to avoid buying something for which she and her husband haven't planned.

Examine your spending habits to discover the ways you're tempted to spend. Then do your best to eliminate those temptations. You may have to steer clear of the warehouse club for a while if that land of plenty tempts you to buy too much. Or maybe you need to turn down invitations to those home party shows—where you usually buy something just to avoid hurting the hostess' feelings. Wherever you're tempted to spend, look carefully for your "way of escape."

Cut Up Those Credit Cards
Romans 13:7,8 commands us to "give everyone what you owe him. �?Let no debt remain outstanding." But many of us, myself included, find it too easy to allow credit-card balances to go unpaid indefinitely, leaving us not only with the original obligation but the additional debt of finance charges.

Several years ago, my friend Kari and her husband, Joel, found themselves over their heads in debt. They barely could meet the minimum payments on their high-interest credit cards, and the debt continued to grow year after year. Eventually, they decided to take out a consolidation loan at a low-interest rate to pay off their credit-card debt once and for all. Then they cut up their credit cards and limited themselves to cash, their debit card, or a charge card that required full payment each month. Even though it was difficult, they resisted the temptation to buy things on credit, and within two years, they were free from consumer debt.

I admit that I, too, became addicted to credit cards after initially saying I'd use them "for emergencies only." Now I leave the credit card at home in a drawer where it can't be used. According to Mary Hunt, Christian financial expert and author of Debt-Proof Living, "When you shop with cash, you're a different kind of consumer. You compare prices. You think twice."

End Impulse Buying
We've all done it. You go into a store to buy one item—and you come out with ten things you didn't realize you "needed." Or you're out buying your child's birthday presents, and you've just checked off the final item on your to-buy list when the newest Elmo toy practically jumps off the shelf to grab your attention. You throw it into the cart, thinking, One more toy won't hurt. The trouble is, those impulse purchases wipe out your budget.

When it comes to impulse buying, retailers are not your friends. As you stroll through the supermarket, you'll notice enticing items located conveniently at eye level. Your friendly McDonald's clerk invariably asks, "Would you like fries with that?" They know that if they can plant the idea in your mind, you're more likely to follow through and buy something you hadn't planned on.

How can you put an end to impulse buying? First, always shop from a list. Never enter a store "just to see what they have." My friend Lisa always makes a list of exactly what she's looking for. "My goal is to cross off each item, not to browse down every aisle," she says.

Second, when presented with an enticing impulse purchase, impose a waiting period on yourself. Proverbs 31:16 tells us of the wise woman who "considers a field and buys it." Notice how she thinks about the purchase before she spends the money. No matter how badly you think you need something, force yourself to wait a predetermined amount of time. At the end of that waiting period, if you still feel you need the item, then consider buying it. My sister, Joye, and her husband agreed long ago not to purchase any item that costs more than $50 without first consulting each other and waiting 24 hours. They've found these guidelines have enabled them to pass up many impulse splurges.