Brittany Luce

And I've been slacking on getting a new one because every time I get to that checkout page online, typing in my credit card number for a $4,000 couch just doesn't feel right. But on every checkout page, I kept coming across an alternative payment option.

And I've been slacking on getting a new one because every time I get to that checkout page online, typing in my credit card number for a $4,000 couch just doesn't feel right. But on every checkout page, I kept coming across an alternative payment option.

And I've been slacking on getting a new one because every time I get to that checkout page online, typing in my credit card number for a $4,000 couch just doesn't feel right. But on every checkout page, I kept coming across an alternative payment option.

Right under credit card, Apple Pay, PayPal was the option to get my couch now and break my payment down into installments using Klarna, Affirm, or Afterpay. This was new to me, but I would come to find out that these companies were offering buy now, pay later loans.

Right under credit card, Apple Pay, PayPal was the option to get my couch now and break my payment down into installments using Klarna, Affirm, or Afterpay. This was new to me, but I would come to find out that these companies were offering buy now, pay later loans.

Right under credit card, Apple Pay, PayPal was the option to get my couch now and break my payment down into installments using Klarna, Affirm, or Afterpay. This was new to me, but I would come to find out that these companies were offering buy now, pay later loans.

That is NPR Life Kit's Andy Tegel. And I called her up to walk me through this payment plan because I was very familiar with layaway, where a store holds a large purchase for you as you pay it off in installments. But getting the product up front and paying for it over time, that was new to me. But according to Andy, it's pretty popular and for good reason.

That is NPR Life Kit's Andy Tegel. And I called her up to walk me through this payment plan because I was very familiar with layaway, where a store holds a large purchase for you as you pay it off in installments. But getting the product up front and paying for it over time, that was new to me. But according to Andy, it's pretty popular and for good reason.

That is NPR Life Kit's Andy Tegel. And I called her up to walk me through this payment plan because I was very familiar with layaway, where a store holds a large purchase for you as you pay it off in installments. But getting the product up front and paying for it over time, that was new to me. But according to Andy, it's pretty popular and for good reason.

Buy now, pay later is also user-friendly. It's integrated into your online shopping experience at the point of sale or or on the product page itself. You can even download the Klarna or Affirm app to shop at your favorite stores all at once and track your purchases. All kinds of people use Buy Now, Pay Later.

Buy now, pay later is also user-friendly. It's integrated into your online shopping experience at the point of sale or or on the product page itself. You can even download the Klarna or Affirm app to shop at your favorite stores all at once and track your purchases. All kinds of people use Buy Now, Pay Later.

Buy now, pay later is also user-friendly. It's integrated into your online shopping experience at the point of sale or or on the product page itself. You can even download the Klarna or Affirm app to shop at your favorite stores all at once and track your purchases. All kinds of people use Buy Now, Pay Later.

But with such a low barrier to entry and easy access, you can imagine young people really flock to these loans.

But with such a low barrier to entry and easy access, you can imagine young people really flock to these loans.

But with such a low barrier to entry and easy access, you can imagine young people really flock to these loans.

But like with most things, there are some downsides.

But like with most things, there are some downsides.

But like with most things, there are some downsides.

That floored me. In our chat, Andy compared it to the grocery store. You know, that area right before in front of the cashier where there are snacks, gum, and soda for you to buy last minute. If you have an app that offers buy now, pay later loans, the app curates that little section just for you. But it doesn't stop there.

That floored me. In our chat, Andy compared it to the grocery store. You know, that area right before in front of the cashier where there are snacks, gum, and soda for you to buy last minute. If you have an app that offers buy now, pay later loans, the app curates that little section just for you. But it doesn't stop there.