Today we’re talking about something I’ve become a little obsessed with: Buy Now, Pay Later apps (you know—Afterpay, Klarna, Affirm, Sezzle... the list goes on).

These things weren’t even around when I was in my 20s and 30s—and honestly? Thank. God. Because if they had been, I would’ve gotten myself in real trouble. Fast.

And that’s exactly what’s happening to a lot of people now.

How I Found Out About This

I first really looked into these apps when my son came to me and said, “Mom, I can’t keep track of these payments.”
He had used a few different BNPL services, and things got out of hand. The payments were stacking up, he was losing track of what was due when, and next thing you know—he’s got a mess to clean up.

So we sat down, put together a plan, and it worked. It worked so well that I turned it into a free course so anyone else dealing with BNPL stress can have a way out too.

I’ll link it below—but first, let’s talk about why this kind of debt gets so tricky in the first place.

The Hidden Problem: Cash Flow

Buy Now, Pay Later apps mess with something most people aren’t even taught to manage: cash flow.

Cash flow is just this:

Money coming in vs. money going out—plus when those things actually happen.

You probably already know that if you spend $100, you need to have $100 (or more) coming in, right?

But here’s where it gets complicated—timing.

You might get paid every two weeks, but your expenses don’t line up neatly. Rent is on the 1st. Utilities on the 15th. Groceries pop up anytime. Coffee? Daily. And BNPL apps? They sprinkle payment due dates all over your calendar like confetti.

The $100 That Becomes 8 Little Traps

Here’s how it plays out:

You’re about to spend $100.
Then you think, “Oh wait, I’ll just use Buy Now, Pay Later—only $25 is due today!”

Sounds smart, right? Except now, instead of tracking one $100 expense, you’ve got four $25 payments stretched out over the next eight weeks.

You feel like you saved money—but you didn’t. You just delayed it.

And the worst part? Since that $100 didn’t come out of your account right away, you’re way more likely to spend more money elsewhere.

Juggling Madness: A BNPL Analogy

Imagine each BNPL transaction is a ball you’re juggling.

One transaction = one ball. Easy.
But then you add another transaction. And another.
Suddenly you’re juggling eight balls, and here comes rent—a ninth.

Your brain can’t keep up. Your cash flow gets wrecked. And all of it started with “just $25 today.”

Credit Cards vs. BNPL

Credit cards have their own set of challenges; but your bill shows up once a month and you can plan for it.  With BNPL apps, the payments hit your account randomly, and across multiple purchases. There’s no clean cycle. No real visibility.

It’s chaos in the disguise of convenience.

So… What Do You Do?

Honestly? My best advice is not to use them. They’re just not worth the stress. Most of us aren’t running personal QuickBooks accounts in our spare time, and BNPL debt is ridiculously hard to track.

But—if you’re already in it, you’re not alone. And there’s a way out.

A Free Way to Clean It Up

I took the exact three-step process my son and I used to get him out of BNPL debt, and turned it into a free mini-course. Inside, you’ll:

• Get clarity on what you owe
• Make a realistic payoff plan
• Set yourself up to avoid the same mess again

You’ll also get a few tips on how to shift your mindset—because this stuff can feel embarrassing and heavy, and it doesn’t have to.

✨ Grab the Free Course Here – Buy Now, Pay Later Freedom Plan

Final Thought

What starts out looking easy—BNPL apps—often turns into something really hard to manage. Not because you’re lazy. Not because you’re irresponsible. But because the system is designed to feel painless until it’s not.

You can get through this. You can clean it up. And if you need help, we’ve got you.

Until next time—stay happy, stay healthy, and keep showing up.

—Lee