If you are looking for another way to help manage debt than just cash or a debit card from your bank (which many allow overdrafts, getting you into even more debt), try a reloadable prepaid debit card, like the UPside Visa card. You are able to fund the card periodically or automatically with allowance schedules, from family, friends and employers. And with multiple plans to choose from, you can find a card that fits you and/or your family's lifestyle, as you can get the card for yourself or one for family members that are either already in need of debt-help or you would like to teach healthy financial living to, like your kids (as young as 13 years of age).
You can check it at http://www.upsidecard.com/?sponsorship=ecairn3

Thanks

I try to avoid the HELOC kicking in because they charge me $10 when the overdraft occurs. Avoiding the $10 fee makes losing interest on < $500 a non factor.

I used to use a tactic similar to option 1. I kept EXACTLY $1,000 extra in the account. This was when my wife and I kept a checkbook register religiously and accurately and reconciled monthly. The trick was that I subtracted the $1,000 out to make it appear as if it wasn't there. My wife never knew about this trick and it saved us many times because lets just say she's not as focused on finances. It was funny because whenever she went to the ATM she would ask why the balance was so high and I would tell her its was because there are uncleared checks. She never knew.