If you've recently closed on a debt consolidation loan, painful memories of those huge monthly bills are probably still fresh in your mind. Don't forget what happened; instead, learn from your mistakes and curb your post-debt consolidation spending.

For over-spenders, the road to financial recovery begins with a debt consolidation loan. Consolidating huge credit card debts into one loan with a lower overall rate is a smart move, and you should be commended for it. However, the debt consolidation loan isn't the end of your journey-it's just the beginning.

Like dieters who lose lots of weight then gain it right back, approximately two out of three homeowners who take out debt consolidation loans revert back to their overspending ways. Those empty credit card balances and the newfound cash flow often prove to be too tempting. Keep yourself from lapsing back into debt by using the following tips.

Clip the credit cards

If an open line of credit is too powerful to resist, snip all your cards and go back to using a checkbook. It may be inconvenient, but it will prevent you from spending more than you have. A debit card works, too, and offers all the flexibility and convenience of a credit card without the hassle of maintaining a checkbook.

You can use credit cards to your advantage, provided that you have the discipline to pay off your entire balance. Sign up for a rewards card, and use it to make all your purchases. You'll generate rewards points that can be cashed in for airplane tickets, gifts, or even cash.

Make a budget

For the impulse spender, following a budget can be the most excruciating part of reforming your bad financial habits-but it has to happen. Take a look at your bank and credit card statements for the last several months, and track your cash outlays for 30 days to analyze where you're spending your money. From there, plan out set expenditure amounts on a monthly basis. This will be particularly critical in the area of entertainment, where Americans spend most of their disposable incomes.

If your record-keeping is lacking, consider buying personal finance software. Most programs have a budget-tracking component. You can keep track of your checking and credit card accounts through the software, and then compare the expenditures with your budget. It's a great way to get yourself organized.

The key from this point forward is to keep a close eye on your daily, monthly, and annual expenditures. Create a budget, and make sure you stick to it. As a reward for correcting those bad financial habits, include some frivolous shopping money for special occasions. You need to stick to this spending plan, but you have to enjoy your life, as well.

As you begin to develop a sense of discipline and a newfound routine, those impulses to spend, spend, spend will subside. Your debt consolidation loan was a tremendous start down the road to financial recovery. Now you need to keep heading in the right direction.