Credit cards are essential to helping you build a credit history and learning to manage debt responsibly. Unfortunately, they are a little too easy to use. With the buy now, pay later mentality consumers make bigger purchases more frequently. This habit is leading to more and more consumers being mired in credit card debt everyday.

If this situation sounds familiar, don’t worry. Here are 7 easy things you can do to lighten your debt and manage your plastic.

1. Stop adding debt to your current balance. This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprises how many times we continue to pile more onto our already high balances. Avoid impulse buys and cut up your cards if necessary.

2. Pay off your highest interest rates first. If you carry multiple cards, focus on the one with the highest interest rate by paying 5%-10% more than the minimum while paying the minimum due on the rest of your cards. Once you pay the outstanding balance on the first card move on to the next card and do the same thing.

3. Ask for a lower interest rate on your current accounts. This seems simple and it is. Often getting a lower rate depends on who you talk to so be persistent. Ask for a supervisor if it’s necessary. If you’ve been a good customer you may also want to mention other offers you are receiving in the mail. Your issuer will be likely to lower your rate just to keep you as a customer.

4. Consider transferring your balances to a card with a lower introductory APR. Transferring is a great idea if you can pay off your balance in the introductory period – generally 6 to 12 months. Be sure to check if the APR applies to transfers and new purchases, as well as the terms and conditions of the card. Often low APR cards have fine print that raise your interest exponentially if you miss a payment or have debt beyond the introductory phase.

5. Talk with your bank or credit union about getting a personal loan for all your debt. This will give you a lower interest rate and minimize the number of payments you have to make each month.

6. If you own your own home and have enough equity (owing less than 80% of total value) you could roll all your debts into your home loan. The downside to this is that you will end up paying your credit cards debts off over a longer period.

7. Finally, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. Debt Counselors of America is a nonprofit company that assists consumers with financial problems. You can reach them by phone at 1-800-680-3328 or visit their website www.debtcounselorsofamerica.com.

Remember getting out of debt will take discipline and time. It’s important that you use credit responsibly and take control of your finances, especially to get the best deals for future investments, like buying a house. Be patient, stay focused on your goals and don’t expect instant miracles and it’ll pay off in the end.