Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) programs from companies like Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm are becoming increasingly common at online checkouts—and younger consumers, especially Gen Z, are being targeted the most. While these services advertise interest-free payments, they can create a false sense of affordability and lead to unplanned overspending.
In this edition of Money Moves with Maggie, we explore the real financial impact of BNPL platforms and how splitting purchases into smaller payments can affect your long-term budgeting and cash flow. Maggie explains why it’s important to treat these tools like a loan—not a convenience—and how to make smarter, more informed decisions when managing your money.
📌 Topics covered:
- What is Buy Now Pay Later?
- How BNPL programs work (Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm)
- The psychological trap of small recurring payments
- Financial wellness tips for Gen Z
- Why instant gratification can cost you later
💡 Tip: If you can’t afford to pay in full today, it might not be the right time to buy.
✅ Watch this video before your next online checkout to protect your financial future.
Money Moves with Maggie” features Maggie Shipley, our next-gen advisor at Argent Bridge Advisors. This is a monthly series tailored for Maggie’s audience of millennial/Gen Z next-generation investors. Each video provides quick, actionable insights to help the viewer navigate and optimize finances. Please invite your friends and family to tune in for bite-sized financial tips and insights that seek to empower the next generation of investors when making strategic decisions about their money.
Get to know Maggie and improve your financial literacy in just 1 minute each month! Are you ready to take action or make a move that leads to your financial success? We are always available to answer your questions about this topic, or any other topic regarding your wealth planning.
You can reach out to Maggie (maggieshipley@argentbridge.com) directly to discuss!
Maggie Shipley
NextGen Advisor & Financial Analyst
