Financial experts not only say it is possible to save while paying off credit card debt—they recommend it. Doing both can help prevent you from becoming trapped in a recurring cycle of debt.

“If you don’t have a solid savings cushion, the next emergency or unexpected situation will force you to rely on credit card debt again,” says Yanely Espinal, a financial educator and author of Mind Your Money.

If your goal is to eliminate credit card debt, resist the temptation to direct every available dollar toward card payments. Instead, use this period as an opportunity to put your finances on a stronger footing.

In this guide, Espinal and Atlanta-based certified financial planner Tania Brown explain how to keep up with payments while avoiding the debt cycle.

Step 1: Track your spending and identify where you can cut back

Paying off credit card debt requires finding room in your budget. To see where you can save, track your spending for 30 days. Brown advises her clients to use a paper calendar, although a notebook works as well.

You might decide to curb a matcha latte habit, for example, or cancel a magazine subscription you rarely use.