Not only should you shred them but call the credit company and cancel every last one of them. No temptation. Set up a budget (YNABN is what we have. It stands for "You need a budget now). We put all our expenses in there and put money in them every paycheck. I have my own category for my own spending money. If there is something I want and cant afford it, I save up. I can see the money growing in each account. We have a savings account that we dont touch. It only for emergency.

Money is the root to all evil and credit cards are the demons. I understand its a bipolar thing (believe me). Im not perfect and hubby has nicely been after me. But we are now on the same page. We know where they money went and we work together to improve it.

Cancel those evil things, do not apply to anymore. Dig yourself out, improve your credit score and feel better about yourself !