Breakneck Debt Reduction

Brent and I used this method about a year ago when we had some credit card debt that we just couldn't catch up on....

First, sit down when you get paid with your checkbook and list of bills . Brent gets paid every week, so when I'd enter his paycheck into Quicken, that's when I'd plan the week out.
Look ahead at any bills you have due that week and get them out of the way. Then estimate how much you will need that week for groceries, gas, household things, etc. Mentally subtract this from your checkbook balance. After this, you may have $100 or so left in your account. If you're anything like me, you'll say to yourself, "Look, we have money - we can go out to eat, and to a movie, and buy a new pair of shoes!" Then when your debt bill comes in the mail, you'll be pissed because you have no money to pay it with, and you struggle just to make the minimum payment. So, instead of just letting that money sit in your account and tempt you, write out a check toward your debt. Then put it in an envelope and wait for the bill to come. If you do this once a week, by the time your bill comes, you will have three or four checks to give them - maybe even a couple of hundred dollars more than you usually pay.
It seems simple and easy, but it really works well. There are other ways of earmarking your excess money for debt repayment, but I find that actually writing out the check to be most effective. If you want the money back, you have to void the check and change your records around; just generally a pain to do.