When my mania was at the absolute worst, I ran up $25,000 in credit card debt. After it was over, I looked back and couldn’t think of one major important purchase I made. It was just a fog and I really couldn’t remember what all I bought. Telling my husband was the scariest thing. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he’d divorced me but he didn’t. We had to take out a second mortgage to pay it off. The house would have been paid off by now, but we’re still paying the second mortgage. I no longer have any credit cards or department store accounts. I live on a cash only basis. If I need something online, my husband buys it. If I want something but don’t have cash to pay for it, I just can’t get it. This might not work for everyone but it’s a very freeing way of life for me. I can never have any credit cards again because I just can’t manage them.