Your introductory 0% APR credit card is ending soon. How to avoid expensive surprises.

Younger Americans may be taking longer-term credit risk to help meet rising costs.

With credit card debt ratios reaching record highs, the latest FICO data shows that Gen Z is opening credit cards at a higher rate than other generations. They also have the highest credit card usage.

Amid job loss or reduced income, 48% of Gen Z rely on credit cards to make ends meet, FICO vice president Jenelle Dito recently told Yahoo Finance, and nearly 40% of Gen Z admit to opening credit cards as a source of finance. But racking up credit card debt balances to meet monthly expenses can have lasting consequences and costs.

For some, credit cards with 0% introductory APRs offer a solution. You can use a 0% APR card to pay off an existing credit card balance — or to help make ends meet by avoiding interest on new purchases for a year or more.

However, these cards are not free money. When you reach the end of the introductory period of your 0% APR card, you’ll pay interest again. Here’s what you can do to make the most of your 0% APR period and reduce your incoming interest payments.

There are two main ways you can use a 0% APR card: transfer an existing balance and pay off debt, or make a new purchase during the introductory period.

If you’ve taken out credit card debt to help with your expenses in the past, a 0% APR balance can be a great tool. You can transfer the balance on your old card and use the introductory period to pay off the principal balance without accruing additional interest.

Generally, 0% APR periods today range from about 12 months up to 21 months. That gives you a year or more to pay off existing debt using a balance transfer.

Here are the top 0% APR credit cards today. These cards offer introductory 0% APR offers on both balance transfers and new purchases:

But if you’re struggling to meet your expenses, a 0% APR offer alone won’t solve the problem, says Zach Reyes, CFP, founder and financial planner at Circadia Financial Planning.

“It should be combined with a strong cash flow plan,” he said. If your cash flow isn’t enough to pay off your balance before the 0% APR period ends, “you’re probably kicking the can down the road.”

After your 0% APR introductory period ends, any remaining balance will begin accruing interest. Average credit card APRs today are over 21%, according to Federal Reserve data. With interest rates that high, your balance will grow quickly after the introductory period.

For example, say you have $2,000 left on your credit card after the introductory period ends, and your ongoing interest rate is 21%.

If you only make small payments on the balance (calculated at 1% plus interest), it will take more than 15 years to pay off the balance in full, and you’ll pay more than $2,800 in interest – and that means you’re not adding to your balance over the course of the repayment period.

If, instead, you decided to contribute a fixed amount of $150 to your balance each month, you would have a much shorter repayment period of 16 months. But you’re still adding about $300 in interest payments to your total amount paid.

The best way to avoid paying extra interest on your loan is to pay it off in full before your 0% APR period ends.

If you’re transferring a balance, have a plan before opening your new card. Find out how much you’ll need to pay each month during the introductory period to pay off the full balance (including any balance transfer fees) by the time your introductory period ends.

Even if that amount is more than your budget, contribute as much as possible during the introductory period to reduce your balance before interest accrues.

Whether you’re using 0% APR on new purchases or balance transfers, check your balance at the end of the term.

“Sixty days before the 0% APR period ends, you should start considering next steps,” says Reyes. “Don’t rush through the last week of the promo before the standard APR kicks in. If you can’t pay off the remaining balance before the 0% APR period ends, go ahead and hurry if possible. If there’s going to be a reasonable balance left, now’s the time to evaluate your next move.”

If you know you’ll still have debt when the 0% APR period ends, have a plan to pay it off before you start earning interest. Acting quickly can help you avoid racking up high-interest charges that lead to long-lasting balances.

If you do nothing, your balance will start accruing interest. Interest will increase your balance, but depending on your balance, you may want to keep making payments on your card until you pay off the debt in full.

If you can pay more than the minimum payment each month, the faster you will reduce the balance. It may also be useful to switch to cash and debit payments until your debt is paid off, so you don’t run the risk of adding to the overall balance.

A personal loan is another way to manage your debt, with a fixed repayment period and fixed monthly payments. Personal loans can offer you manageable payments if the payment required to eliminate your debt during the 0% APR period is more than your budget.

Personal loans also generally have lower interest rates than credit cards. The average 24-month personal loan today is 11.4%, according to Federal Reserve data. However, the exact amount you qualify for will largely depend on your credit score and other factors in your application. You are more likely to get a lower interest rate with excellent credit.

Read more: How to use a personal loan to pay off $10,000 in credit card debt

In some cases, it may make sense to take out another 0% APR offer after the first one ends. This requires a strong credit score, and you will have to pay an additional balance transfer fee to move your existing balance to the new card.

However, this is not a solution for everyone. Consider your overall financial situation — and why you couldn’t pay off the debt within the initial introductory period — before you take out a new 0% APR card.

“This method is best if a personal loan isn’t an option, you have your cash flow under control, and life throws you a curveball that prevents payment during the first balance transfer,” says Reyes. If you find yourself needing to transfer to a new 0% APR card over and over again, he added, the solution is probably more about managing your cash flow than transferring more balances.