How to get rid of "buy now, pay later" debt before it impacts your credit

BNPL debt can damage your credit, so it's important to deal with what you owe now. OlekStock/Getty Images

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) services have exploded in popularity over the last few years. While these payment plans were once seen as a convenient way to stretch payments for big-ticket items, in today's tough economic landscape, they are being used by borrowers for everything from groceries to medical bills . And, the results of that trend are troubling. According to a new survey from LegalShield , about 76% of Americans have used a BNPL plan to finance a purchase, and nearly half of the borrowers who've used them have already missed a payment.

So, for many borrowers, what may have started as an easy way to manage cash flow has turned into a juggling act that they're strugglin