The offers can be tempting: Buy a brand-new dining room set, a high-end watch or a home-theater system and pay zero dollars for 12 months.

These plans, often dubbed “buy now, pay later,” are accompanied by a 0% interest rate during their promotional period and can offer big savings, assuming the balance is paid off during this time.

However, they typically come with more dangers than perks. And as we enter the holiday shopping season, more retailers will start offering these financing plans in an attempt to encourage consumers to shop, says Sheryl Garrett, a fee-only certified financial planner.