Why you should think twice about using buy now, pay later to cover holiday expenses

Core Insights - The article discusses the growing popularity of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services, especially during the holiday shopping season, with 50% of consumers planning to use BNPL for their holiday purchases according to PayPal's survey [2] - While BNPL offers interest-free payment options, it also poses risks such as late fees and potential impacts on credit scores, with 41% of BNPL users reporting late payments [3][6] What is BNPL? - BNPL services provide short-term loans that allow consumers to split purchases into multiple payments, typically interest-free, with popular providers including Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, and PayPal [4][5] - The "Pay in 4" model is common, where purchases are divided into four equal payments due every two weeks [4] How BNPL Works - BNPL loans are often approved instantly at checkout, allowing consumers to complete transactions quickly [7] - For example, a $2,000 purchase could be split into four payments of $500, with the first payment due immediately [8][9] Benefits of BNPL - BNPL can help manage budgets by breaking down larger expenses into smaller, more manageable payments [11] - It typically does not require a hard credit check, minimizing the impact on credit scores [11] Risks of BNPL - Consumers may overspend due to the perception of lower upfront costs, leading to inflated holiday budgets [11] - Late fees can be significant, with some services charging fees that are disproportionately high relative to the purchase price [11] - The incorporation of BNPL data into credit scores by FICO could negatively impact users who miss payments [11] Alternatives to BNPL - Alternatives include 0% APR credit cards, personal loans, personal lines of credit, and Payday Alternative Loans (PAL), which may offer better terms in certain situations [12] Responsible Management of BNPL - Recommendations for responsible use of BNPL include avoiding discretionary purchases, not taking out multiple loans simultaneously, checking overall budget compatibility, understanding terms and fees, and choosing services with no fees or interest [13]