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- Written by Consumer Affairs News
- Category: Consumer Daily Reports
of ConsumerAffairs
July 24, 2026
Fifteen percent of active cardholders used a buy now, pay later service during the second quarter of 2026.
Adoption is growing fastest among households earning less than $40,000 and families with children.
Renters and younger adults remain the most likely consumers to use installment-payment services.
Buy now, pay later services are attracting more consumers, but new transaction data suggest some of that growth may be driven by mounting financial pressure on lower-income households and families with children.
Consumer Edge reports that 15% of active cardholders used a buy now, pay later, or BNPL, service during the second quarter of 2026. That was an increase of 1.23 percentage points from a year earlier and kept adoption near a record high.
BNPL plans let shoppers divide a purchase into several payments. Many of the most common plans require four interest-free payments over six weeks, although terms vary by provider and some longer-term plans charge interest.
The latest numbers show that BNPL growth is increasingly concentrated among consumers who may have less room in their household budgets.
The story this quarter isnt that BNPL usage is broadthats been true for a while, said Michael Gunther, senior vice president of research and market intelligence at Consumer Edge. Its that growth is increasingly concentrated among families and lower-income households facing the greatest financial pressure.
Families are more likely to use installment plans
About 19% of shoppers with children used BNPL during the second quarter, compared with approximately 12.5% of consumers without children.
Adoption growth accelerated among households with children while slowing among those without children, although both groups registered year-over-year increases.
The division may reflect the additional costs that parents face, including food, clothing, housing and child care. Breaking purchases into smaller payments can make an immediate expense appear more manageable, even though the full amount must still be paid.
However, Marcus Sturdivant, founder of The ABC Squared, a registered investment advisory firm, the convenience becomes an illusion if you have multiple purchases that become overwhelming.
The flipside of not paying those installments back on time, or maybe at all, is interest rates that rival credit card rates, Sturdivant told ConsumerAffairs.
- Details
- Written by Consumer Affairs News
- Category: Consumer Daily Reports
of ConsumerAffairs
July 24, 2026
Used electric vehicle prices rose 7.4% in June from a year earlier, while overall used car prices declined 1.3%.
All four Tesla models ranked among the 10 used vehicles with the largest price increases.
Higher gasoline prices appear to be renewing consumer interest in EVs, but shoppers should compare total ownership costs before buying.
Used electric vehicles are getting more expensive, reversing a long stretch in which falling resale values created bargains for shoppers but frustrated existing owners.
The average price of a used EV between one and five years old reached $33,305 in June, according to a new iSeeCars study. That was $2,308, or 7.4%, higher than in June 2025.
By comparison, the average price across all one- to five-year-old used vehicles fell 1.3% to $32,395, a decline of $412 from a year earlier.
A shopper who delayed buying a used electric vehicle this spring may now face a noticeably higher price, even as the broader used car market remains flat or down, iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer said.
The company attributes the turnaround in part to higher gasoline prices, which may have encouraged more drivers to consider vehicles that do not require gasoline. Brauer said the shift in EV demand became apparent after gasoline prices remained elevated for about a month.
EV prices gain momentum
The increase did not happen all at once. Used EV prices were still 3.4% below year-ago levels in March, when the average price stood at $30,535.
Prices then rose above their year-earlier levels for three straight months:
April: $31,984, up 2.7%
May: $32,467, up 5.2%
June: $33,305, up 7.4%
That means the average price increased by $2,770 between March and June alone.
The broader used vehicle market followed a different course. Average prices declined year over year in five of the first six months of 2026 and were unchanged in the other month, suggesting buyers may still find better negotiating conditions outside the EV category.
Tesla prices rise sharply
Tesla led the rebound, with all four of its used models posting double-digit price increases.
The Model X had the largest increase of any vehicle in the study. Its average used price climbed 17.5%, or $9,066, to $60,950.
The Tesla Model 3 rose 13.5% to an average of $28,520, while the Model S increased 13.1% to $52,787. The Model Y gained 12% to reach $32,916.
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- Category: Consumer Daily Reports
Skip the "dorm tax." Ignore retailer checklists, coordinate with your roommate, and avoid paying more for products simply labeled "dorm."
Buy smart, not all at once. Shop secondhand, wait until after move-in for some items, and don't overbuy school supplies before classes begin.
Spend where it matters. Invest in a quality mattress topper and backpack, but save by splitting bulk purchases and buying only what you'll actually use.
It's surprisingly easy to spend $800, $1,000, or even more, outfitting a dorm room. Bedding, storage bins, towels, cleaning supplies, small appliances, school supplies, room dcor, it all adds up quickly.
The good news? Most students don't actually need nearly as much as retailers suggest. The biggest savings come from buying strategically, avoiding duplicate purchases, and resisting the temptation to create a Pinterest-perfect dorm on day one.
Here are eight smart ways to stock a college dorm room without draining your bank account.
1. Ignore the 'college essentials' shopping lists
Every major retailer publishes a dorm checklist, but many are designed to increase your shopping cart and arent designed to save you money.
You'll find dozens of products labeled as "must-haves" that many students never use, including specialty organizers, extra bedding, decorative accessories, and kitchen gadgets.
Instead, divide purchases into three categories:
Needed on move-in day
Can wait until classes begin
Buy only if actually needed
Take it from a dad whos moved three kids into college, youll quickly discover plenty of items you can comfortably live without and will be glad you didnt spend money on.
Pro tip: Create a "Wait List Fund." Instead of spending your entire dorm budget before you move-in, hold back $100 to $150. After two or three weeks, youll know exactly what's missing instead of guessing ahead of time.
2. Coordinate with your roommate before buying anything
One of the easiest ways to waste money is buying doubles.
Most dorm rooms don't need two mini refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, fans, vacuums, or printers.
A quick conversation before shopping can save each of you hundreds of dollars.
Pro tip: Assign ownership to items instead of splitting the costs. Rather than going halves on everything, let each roommate purchase specific shared items. Move-out becomes much simpler because everyone already knows what belongs to whom.
3.
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- Written by Consumer Affairs News
- Category: Consumer Daily Reports
Scammers move fast. Fake download sites appeared within hours of the The Odyssey's film release, attempting to install malware instead of the movie.
Know the warning signs. Avoid ".exe" movie downloads and ignore websites that ask you to install software or click fake browser alerts.
Stream safely. Use legitimate streaming services and keep your security software updated to reduce your risk.
Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated film The Odyssey had barely reached theaters before scammers began exploiting the excitement.
Cybersecurity researchers at Malwarebytes found fake movie downloads and bogus piracy websites appearing within hours of the film's release. Instead of delivering the blockbuster, the attempted to trick users into installing malware that could steal passwords, banking information, or even lock up an entire computer with ransomware.
The are a reminder that criminals move quickly whenever there's intense interest in a major movie, sporting event, or video game.
Here's how to avoid becoming their next victim.
Never download a movie that ends in '.exe'
One of the biggest red flags researchers found was a file disguised as a high-definition copy of The Odyssey.
It looked like a movie but actually ended with the ".exe" file extension a Windows program, not a video. Legitimate video files typically end in formats like .mp4, .mkv, or .avi. If your "movie" wants to install software, it's almost certainly malware.
Pro tip: Turn on file extensions in Windows so you can see the real file type before opening a download.
Ignore fake browser warnings
Researchers also discovered convincing pop-ups claiming a browser component was missing and urging users to click "Fix It Now."
The warning wasn't real it was simply part of the webpage, designed to send visitors through advertising networks that could lead to fake browser extensions, tech support , or malware downloads.
Pro tip: If a website tells you to install software just to watch a video, its highly recommended to close the page immediately.
Popular movies attract scammers
Criminals know millions of people search online for newly released movies.
That makes blockbuster releases prime opportunities for phishing attacks, fake streaming sites, and malware-laced downloads. The same tactic often appears around major sporting events, hit TV series, and popular video games.
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- Category: Consumer Daily Reports
A new survey found that 81% of Americans would skip a traditional wedding if it meant having more money for a house down payment.
Many couples are embracing smaller weddings and elopements, with many saying intimate celebrations better fit their financial goals and long-term priorities.
Today's couples aren't giving up on marriage they're finding creative ways to celebrate while putting homeownership and financial security first.
For generations, a big wedding was seen as one of life's biggest milestones. But as home prices and everyday costs continue to climb, many couples are starting to view that celebration differently.
New research from Maxwell Social suggests that more Americans are willing to skip the traditional wedding altogether if it helps them reach other financial goals especially buying a home. In fact, a large majority said they'd rather put that money toward a house down payment than a one-day event.
ConsumerAffairs spoke with David Litwak, founder and CEO of Maxwell Social, who explained what's driving this shift and why smaller weddings and elopements are becoming a practical choice for couples looking to build their future.
The survey
The Maxwell Social survey of 1,006 Americans suggests that the traditional large wedding is losing ground to smaller, more flexible celebrations.
More than half of respondents (56%) said their ideal wedding would center on a party rather than a traditional ceremony and reception, while nearly half (49%) have considered eloping without telling anyone.
Financial considerations appear to be a major driver: about four in five Americans said they would trade a traditional wedding for a house down payment (81%), paying off debt (81%), or a dream honeymoon or year of travel (80%).
Among couples who downsized their weddings, many redirected the savings toward major financial goals, including homeownership.
The survey also found that 69% of Americans view a destination elopement as a bigger status symbol in 2026 than a traditional 200-person reception, suggesting that intimate celebrations are increasingly seen as intentional and aspirational rather than a budget compromise.
Instead of viewing a traditional wedding as the default, many now see it as one option among many, Litwak said.
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- Written by Consumer Affairs News
- Category: Consumer Daily Reports
Nearly half of parents expect to spend more than $500 on back-to-school shopping this year.
More households plan to use Buy Now, Pay Later services to help cover school expenses.
Many parents say they're cutting back in other areas to make room in the budget.
For many families, back-to-school shopping is no longer just about checking supplies off a list.
A new survey from Omnisend suggests that rising costs are making the annual shopping trip more stressful, with parents looking for new ways to manage the expense.
According to the survey of 1,075 U.S. consumers, 40% of parents expect this year's back-to-school shopping to be more financially stressful than last year's. Nearly half (44%) anticipate spending more than $500, while 19% believe they'll spend over $1,000 on school-related purchases.
Whether parents shop online or in-store, most are trying to keep things simple by buying everything from a single retailer or platform, Marty Bauer, Ecommerce Expert at Omnisend said in a news release.
That means fewer trips, less time spent comparing prices, and easier access to the discounts and rewards stores offer during the back-to-school season. For families with long shopping lists, buying everything in one place doesnt just save time, it can also help stretch the household budget.
Clothing, technology, and supplies are driving costs
Parents reported that apparel is among their biggest financial concerns this year. Shoes topped the list, with 43% saying they're worried about affording them, followed closely by clothing and uniforms (42%). Backpacks (31%), electronics such as laptops and calculators (34%), and everyday school supplies like notebooks and pens (32%) also ranked high on the list of expected expenses.
To help spread out those costs, many families plan to rely on financing. The survey found that 45% of households expect to use Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services for back-to-school purchases, up from 39% last year. Nearly one-third of respondents said those payment plans will cover more than half of their back-to-school spending.
Buy Now, Pay Later was once associated with splurges and impulse purchases, Bauer said. Today, it's increasingly being used for routine expenses.
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