It sounds easy, right? Buy now, pay later. No interest. No fees. No credit check. Just four easy payments.

But let’s get real—when you peel back the slick marketing, these “Pay in 4” plans ain’t as innocent as they look.

From sneakers to sofas, laptops to lashes, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) is being pushed as the new way to shop. Companies like Afterpay, Klarna, Affirm, Sezzle and Zip are flooding your checkout screens, waving temptation in your face: Don’t worry about the full price. Just break it into 4 easy payments.

Sounds smooth, but there’s a whole lot more to this story.

What is Buy Now, Pay Later?

BNPL is a short-term installment loan offered at checkout—online or in-store. Instead of paying the full price upfront, you’re allowed to split the total into smaller payments, often f

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