The concerning rise of Buy Now Pay Later, with Kate Browne

The Broke Generation

In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Browne, head of research and insights at Compare Club, to explore the real impact of buy now, pay later services on our everyday financial habits. What started as a tool for spreading the cost of larger purchases has crept into everyday essentials like groceries and fuel. But how is this changing the way we think about spending and budgeting?

Kate and I dive into the hidden consequences of relying on these services, from juggling multiple payments to losing sight of the true cost of things. It’s not just those facing financial difficulties - many people with higher incomes are now turning to buy now, pay later instead of traditional credit options. Why is that? And what does it say about our changing relationship with money?

We also look at the potential long-term impacts, especially on younger generations, and how these services might be reshaping financial behaviour for years to come.

Today we cover:

• How buy now, pay later services are becoming part of everyday life.
• The effect on spending habits across all income levels.
• What we should be aware of as these services grow in popularity.

“Some people said they were using it daily. And this is really showing that buy now, pay later isn't sort of a nice-to-have tool, but it's really ingrained as a financial tool for people to get from paycheck to paycheck."
Kate [03:56]

“It's very, very easy to lose control and even in people who are generally good with money, once you kind of lose control, it's really hard to get it back or it's even easier to put your head in the sand."
Kate [08:03]

“The relationship we have with our phones, we're on them all the time. So paying with them doesn't feel like anything out of the ordinary."
Emma [23:14]

Where to find Kate

Website: https://compareclub.com.au/expert-analysis/author/kate-browne/

Where to find The Broke Generation

Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegeneration
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.brokegeneration

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