Credit cards are a convenient way to shop in stores and online, but they come with the risk of racking up unmanageable debt. Whether you’re trying to keep your debt down or you simply don’t have access to them, here are several alternatives to credit cards:

Debit Card

The most obvious alternative, the debit card allows you to shop online, over the phone and in-store with convenience and some protections. But you can’t spend more than what you have in your account. This can be helpful for keeping debt down, but can also drain your account quickly if you don’t keep track of how much you’re spending.

Arranged Overdraft

For some quick cash, consider applying for an arranged overdraft. This allows you to withdraw an agreed-upon amount of money from your account if the balance goes negative. Keep in mind that interest rates on these transactions can be high.

Buy Now, Pay Later

These services, like Afterpay and Klarna, have become one of the most popular alternatives to credit cards. They break purchases into four easy payments, usually due every two weeks. But be sure to make your payments as agreed. Otherwise, you’ll be hit with late fees and possibly interest charges. Some of these services also report missed payments to the credit bureaus, which can hurt your credit. Plus, if you use multiple BNPL services at the same time, you can quickly find yourself in deep debt.

Peer-to-Peer Lending

These loans allow you to borrow directly from individuals. Sites like Prosper and Lending Club connect you to would-be lenders. Keep in mind these are real loans and come with the same risks as traditional bank loans.

Secured Credit Card

If you have bad or no credit, a secured credit card is a good alternative to rebuild your credit. It requires a cash deposit, which serves as your spending limit. If you fail to pay your bill, the issuer takes the payment from the cash deposit.

But even if your missed payment is covered by the deposit, it’s still a problem since the lender will report it to the credit bureaus. Your efforts to rebuild your credit could backfire if you don’t make your payments on time.