Money has a greater effect on our relationships than many of us would like to admit. While it’s much more romantic to believe love alone determines the success of a relationship, financial logistics also play a large role. To make it work, each individual in a partnership must commit to doing their share: communicating freely, being honest about financials, spending wisely and working to eliminate debt, to name a few key actions.

Debt in particular can drive a huge wedge in any relationship because it’s psychologically taxing, not to mention limiting in terms of accomplishing larger life and financial goals. For example, a couple may dream of buying a home someday. While not out of the question, this aspiration is made much more difficult with the presence of debt. The same goes for planning a wedding, having children, traveling, or buying a vehicle.

Consumer debt in the U.S. has surpassed $1.3 trillion, with the average American household carrying $139,500. This means many couples must figure out how to deal with debt, for their sake as individuals and for the sake of their partnership.

Here are some tips on getting out of debt as a team.

Communicate Openly About Money

The first hurdle to clear is simply opening the lines of communication. One financial advisor who specializes in helping couples offers this advice for productively kick-starting the conversation:

• Get all [financial] issues out on the table.
• Work through a budget.
• Come to some agreement on “yours, mine, ours.”
• Enact spending limits if needed.

In terms of debt, you need to know how much, what type and to whom it belongs.

Strategize to Eliminate Debt

As Business Insider reports, one survey “found that starting a marriage with consumer debt has ‘a negative impact on newlywed levels of marital quality.’” Couples with $20,000 to $50,000 in debt, the highest tier included in the survey, had the lowest marital satisfaction scores of everyone who participated. From this information, we can infer that debt tends to take a toll on serious relationships. This is just part of the reason it’s beneficial to get out of debt.

Whichever strategy you choose, you should be on the same page as your partner from the get go. Otherwise, you may end up inadvertently sabotaging each other’s efforts to eliminate debt.

For example, let’s say a married couple with $20,000 in high-interest credit card debt decides to pursue debt settlement through a debt relief program. They’ve perused multiple companies offering this service and like the positive Freedom Debt Relief reviews they saw online. After enrolling, they will make regular contributions to a dedicated account. When this account contains enough funds, negotiators from Freedom Debt Relief will contact creditors and try to negotiate settlements that ultimately reduce the amount owed. But if one partner is spending indiscriminately, it will be difficult to contribute the amount needed to zero out these credit card balances once and for all. Both individuals need to commit to resolving debt for it to work—quitting halfway through is only a recipe for further conflict and disappointment.

The same principle applies for couples pursuing a do-it-yourself debt elimination strategy. In a marriage with shared finances, both partners have a vested interest in communally eliminating debt. Even in a relationship with separate finances, the partner with less or no debt can still motivate the person actively working to get rid of debt—and modify their behavior so as not to enable excessive spending. For example, they could plan a cost-effective annual staycation instead of taking an expensive trip with airfare and lodging costs. They could spearhead meal planning so both partners free up some extra cash in their budget each month, useful for paying down debt, bolstering savings and more.

Getting out of debt together, as a couple, can be empowering—provided you communicate effectively throughout and hold each other accountable.

It’s easy to get a credit card in this day and age. Most of us find offers from credit card providers regularly when we open our mailboxes—envelopes prominently advertising cash back, low interest rates, travel miles and other perks. When you think of the benefits alone, it can be quite tempting to sign up.

But, eventually, it comes time to pay the piper. Those credit cards that were so easy to open and use are much more challenging to manage over time. While credit card debt certainly isn’t the end of the world, it can quickly spiral out of control.

Looking to take control of your credit card? Consider these five strategies for dealing with debt effectively and organizing your finances.

Watch Your Credit Utilization Ratio

Keeping a close eye on your credit utilization ratio has a few benefits: it curbs excessive spending and boosts your credit score over time. As U.S. News & World Report notes, “Ideally, credit bureaus like to see that you’re using no more than 30 percent of your available credit.”

Following this logic, maxing out your credit cards can be counterproductive because it puts your credit score at risk. If your credit card has a limit of $5,000 it’s prudent to spend less than $1,500 per month to maintain your ratio. Think of it like a built-in system of checks and balances that ultimately preserves your credit score and helps you stay on track.

Strategize Your Repayment Plan

One of the most confusing aspects of debt can be deciding what to pay off first, especially with multiple credit cards in the picture. While there’s no universal ‘right’ way to tackle debt, there are a few tried-and-true strategies.

• Avalanche Method: Pay off large balances with the highest interest first while making minimum payments on smaller ones. Then move down the line.
• Snowball Method: Pay off small balances first while making minimum payments on larger ones. Then move up the line as you close out each successive debt.
• All-at-Once Method: Pay more than the minimum requirement on each card each month.

The common thread here is that it’s important to pay more than the minimum requirement on at least one card, if not all of them.

Work with Debt Settlement Experts

One of the most intimidating aspects of debt is that it often feels like you’re alone in the process. Some consumers find success partnering with certified debt consultants to come up with a plan of action, including negotiating with creditors to bring debts down before repayment begins. For example, credit card debt relief from companies like Freedom Debt Relief allows clients to make monthly deposits into a single account instead of having to deal with multiple creditors directly. This process continues until the debt has been resolved—but the end sum is lower because of those initial debt negotiations.

Carefully Transfer Your Balance

In theory, transferring your credit card balance from a high-interest rate card to one with lower interest rates is a no brainer. But buyer beware: These low interest rates usually last for 12 to 18 months. After that, the rates become as high or higher than your old card. So, only pursue transference if you’re confident you can pay off your debt within that window. Also, it pays to investigate balance-transfer fees before you agree to anything.

Consider Each Card You Have

There’s a debate surrounding how many credit cards U.S. adults ‘should’ have. But there are pros and cons to consider for carrying more and fewer than three cards. If you’re experiencing debt, it’s better to err on the side of safety. As one Forbes contributor mentions, reducing the number of credit cards available means you’re limiting your ability to accidentally overspend. Sit down and take a close look at the terms of your current credit cards. Examine interest rates, rewards and past expenditures. Then streamline your holdings.

These five strategies for taking control of your credit cards will put you in the driver’s seat of your financial life, now and in the future.