According to data from the Reserve Bank of Australia and a recent article in The Sydney Morning Herald, Australian consumers are using their credit cards less often in the wake of concerns about the economy.

People are looking for ways to stop buying on credit (or at least cut back on their debt increases). In April, credit card users charged 7.5 percent less on their cards after previously increasing trends.

Why are Consumers Using Credit Cards Less Often?

For years, consumers globally have been making more purchases on credit than they could afford to pay back, from large mortgages to high credit card balances. Worldwide, these and other factors have led to anything from bank collapses to full economic recessions. As a result, unemployment rates are also increasing. Consumers are taking notice, and they realize that overzealous credit card spending now could cause them serious problems down the road (especially if they’re one of the unlucky ones who lose their job).

On top of overall economic worries, people are facing higher credit card interest rates than in the past, and credit can be more difficult to come by. It’s a new age of consumer responsibility. Where we had become comfortable and complacent, we now have to act more cautiously.

How to Cut Back on Your Own Credit Card Use

If you’re concerned about losing your job and being stuck with high credit card balances you can’t afford, now is a good time to reign in your spending habits. Those who don’t have to worry are consumers who pay off their credit card bills in full each month. In that case, you would be using a credit card for benefits like rewards programs (like that of the NAB Visa Mini Credit Card) but not actually spending outside of your means.

That would be a good place to start–use your credit cards, but only when you can afford to pay them off in full before you begin accruing interest. You may want to consider a balance transfer to a card offering interest free days (like the American Express Blue Sky credit card) if your current credit card doesn’t offer them.

If you’re concerned that keeping your credit cards on-hand to make routine payments and purchases would still prove to be too tempting, you could follow another consumer trend–use your debit card more often. According to The Sydney Morning Herald article, over the last year Australian consumers have used debit cards (like the ANZ Visa debit card) for 31.6 percent more transactions. This allows you to take advantage of the convenience of a card, but without access to credit. You can only spend the funds actually available within your account.

Consumers are concerned about the economy for good reason. Even as it improves, people are witnessing the risks of relying too heavily on credit which may encourage them to continue with thriftier spending habits. Figure out if you could really afford your existing credit card balances if you or your partner suddenly lost your income. If not, it’s time to join the ranks of increasingly credit savvy consumers, giving credit cards a break.