Summary

Gen Z is increasingly relying on “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) services for holiday shopping, with spending projected to rise 11.4% this year, totaling $18.5 billion.

These services appeal to younger consumers with limited credit histories but can lead to overextension, as they lack centralized reporting and encourage overspending.

Experts warn of accumulating fees, particularly when BNPL plans are tied to credit cards.

With inflation and rising credit card debt already burdening Gen Z, consumer advocates caution that these services may worsen financial instability despite their convenience.

  • jrs100000
    link
    English
    431 day ago

    If were going to slip into a period of hyperinflation then taking on tons of consumer debt is just good financial planning.

    • @taiyang
      link
      151 day ago

      This is correct, although usually you’d want to go into debt on something like housing but let’s be honest, that’s not possible. Why not pay an 80 dollar door dash across four payments?

    • @Tkpro
      link
      523 hours ago

      Isn’t that only if wages increase alongside inflation

      • skulblaka
        link
        fedilink
        29 hours ago

        If $1,000 today is worth $5,000 tomorrow, you want to spend that $1,000 today so that when you pay up you only pay $1,000. Even if inflation hits you, you still only owe $1,000 no matter how much actual value those dollars still hold.

      • jrs100000
        link
        English
        9
        edit-2
        22 hours ago

        Oh no. If a fistfull of trillion dollar bills will buy you a shot glass of rice that maxed out credit card from the before time is pointless either way.