New York Times · Stacy Cowley ·

BNPL lenders like Flex, Zip, and Affirm are now pitching loans for basic household needs; Americans spent $160B through pay-later loans in 2025, up 2x from 2023

The rapid growth of pay-later loans raises questions about whether their popularity is driven by consumer preference or desperation.

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New York Times — BNPL lenders like Flex, Zip, and Affirm are now pitching loans for basic household needs; Americans spent $160B through pay-later loans in 2025, up 2x from 2023 ↗

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