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Lower-income families are using it the most and feeling the squeeze

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• 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. Think about that, we go from a purchase that costs nothing extra to adding a quarter on to every dollar we spend. If a consumer could not make the payments at 0%, chances of them making the payments now are not any higher.

Income data revealed a similar pattern. Households earning less than $40,000 annually already had the highest BNPL adoption rate and were the only income group in which growth accelerated during the quarter. Adoption within that group increased by 1.3 percentage points from a year earlier.

By comparison, 13% of consumers earning more than $150,000 used BNPL. Adoption among that group increased by 0.9 percentage points, the slowest growth of any income category.

Renters use BNPL at a higher rate

Nearly 23% of renters used a BNPL service during the quarter, compared with about 13% of homeowners.

Consumer Edge said the 10-point difference may reflect renters generally lower savings and more limited access to traditional credit. However, BNPL growth among renters slowed from the first quarter.

Usage also continued to skew younger. Approximately 21.5% of consumers ages 25 to 34 used BNPL, compared with about 7% of consumers 65 and older.

Geography made a difference as well. Texas had the highest adoption among large states at approximately 18.5%, followed by Florida, Georgia, Maryland and Tennessee. New Mexico and Nevada recorded the fastest growth, while Minnesota had adoption of just 8.5%.

Consumers are also spreading their purchases among more BNPL companies. About 56.5% of users dealt with only one provider in the second quarter, down from approximately 66% in 2021. Using several services at once can make it harder to track payment dates and the total amount owed.

Convenience can obscure the debt

BNPL can be less expensive than carrying a credit card balance when a plan charges no interest and payments are made on time. But the small installment shown at checkout can make a purchase appear cheaper than it is.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has identified potential risks including mandatory automatic payments, collection and use of consumer data, and borrowers taking on more obligations than they can comfortably repay.

Before selecting BNPL, consumers should review the total purchase price, payment schedule, possible interest and late fees. They should also check their existing installment plans and make sure scheduled withdrawals will not cause an overdraft.

Most importantly, an installment plan should not be treated as a discount. If the purchase would strain the budget at full price, dividing it into four smaller payments may simply postpone the financial pressure.

Don't let retailers turn move-in day into a $1,000 shopping spree

• 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. Don't pay the 'dorm tax'

Manufacturers love adding the word "dorm" to ordinary products, allowing retailers to charge shoppers a premium for them.

• "Dorm storage"

• "Dorm organizer"

• "Dorm shelving"

In many cases, they're identical to products sold elsewhere in the store for less money.

Instead, simply remove the word "dorm" from your online searches. Searching for things like "storage cart" or "plastic drawers" instead of "dorm storage" will uncover cheaper options that retailers don't feature in their college collections.

Try it, I guarantee you'll find basically the same product at a much lower price.

Pro tip: One of the best student discounts around comes from Target. From July 5th through September 12th, students can save 20% off any one storewide purchase in-store, or via Target.com. Just verify your student status and the 20% coupon will get added to your Target account.

4. Shop secondhand for the expensive stuff

Not everything needs to be brand new, especially when getting your dorm room ready. College towns, in particular, become treasure troves every spring as graduating seniors sell perfectly good furniture they don't want to lug home.

Check the following:

• Facebook Marketplace

• OfferUp

• Habitat for Humanity ReStores

• Local thrift stores

• University surplus sales

• Buy Nothing neighborhood groups

You'll often find mini fridges, lamps, desks, shelving, and chairs selling for a fraction of the retail price.

Pro tip: Dont forget to shop estate sales, too. Estate sales are an overlooked source for high-quality lamps, mirrors, side tables, bookcases, and storage furniture that are often sturdier than inexpensive dorm products.

5. Buy after move-in not before

This may sound backwards, but waiting can actually save money.

Many dorms already provide items families mistakenly purchase, including trash cans, bulletin boards, shelving, desk lamps, or laundry carts.

Even more importantly, you'll know exactly how much space you're working with. Storage bins that looked perfect in the store often don't fit underneath dorm beds or inside closets.

Pro tip: Measure first, buy second. Bring only flexible storage solutions on move-in day. Purchase bins and organizers after you've measured the room.

6. Spend more on the items you'll actually use every day

Being frugal doesn't mean buying the cheapest version of everything.

Three purchases are usually worth spending a little extra on:

• A quality mattress topper

• A durable backpack

• A surge-protected power strip

These items affect daily comfort and often last through all four years of college.

Everything else? Look for bargains.

Pro tip: A great way to save is to skip premium bedding sets that can be quite expensive. Instead, buy a mix of affordable sheets, towels, and storage items from different retailers when you find them on sale. Trust me, your wallet will notice, even if no one else does.

7. Share warehouse club purchases

Buying in bulk doesn't make sense when storage space is the size of a closet.

Coordinate with another family heading to college and split larger packages of:

• Toilet paper

• Paper towels

• Laundry detergent

• Cleaning supplies

• Trash bags

• Snacks

You'll get warehouse pricing without overflowing your dorm room.

Pro tip: Buy some discounted gift cards from Costco. Warehouse clubs sell restaurant and retailer gift cards well below face value typically 20% less. It's an easy way to stretch a meal budget throughout the semester.

8. Don't overbuy school supplies

College isn't high school. Many professors distribute assignments digitally, and students increasingly take notes on laptops or tablets.

Instead of filling your cart with binders, folders, notebooks, and specialty supplies before classes begin, wait until each instructor explains what's required.

Pro tip: Buy one notebook not ten. One notebook and a laptop will get most students through the first week while they figure out what each class actually requires.

Bonus tip: Start a 'Dorm Swap' tradition

One of the smartest (yet least common) money-saving ideas happens after you move-in.

Every residence hall has students who bought the wrong storage bin, an extra lamp, duplicate cleaning supplies, or bedding that doesn't fit.

Instead of returning everything, throw out the idea of a dorm swap with neighbors on your floor. You might trade an unused fan for a desk lamp or exchange oversized storage containers for smaller ones that fit under your bed.

It's free, builds community, and keeps perfectly good items out of the return line.

Don't let a free movie become an expensive mistake

• 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.

Use legitimate streaming services

Besides reducing any potential legal risks, official streaming platforms obviously reduce the chance of downloading malicious software.

If a movie isn't yet available to stream legally, that's often because it's still in theaters.

Keep your security software up to date

Modern antivirus and browser protection tools can block many malicious websites and downloads before they reach your computer.

While no security software catches every threat, updated protection adds another important layer of defense.

Many Americans would trade a traditional wedding for a house down payment, debt relief, or other major financial goals

• 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. With an average cost gap of more than $22,000 between a traditional wedding and an elopement, couples are increasingly asking whether that money could make a bigger impact elsewhere, whether that's a down payment, paying off debt, or building financial security.

The survey shows that today's couples aren't necessarily celebrating less. They're choosing celebrations that better align with their long-term priorities.

Housing affordability

The survey also found that nearly 90% of those earning less than $50,000 are more likely to skip a wedding in favor of putting that money toward a home than higher earners.

This illustrates the pressure that lower-income people are under, Litwak said. However, the same applies even to higher-earning families, with almost seven out of ten families with annual earnings above $150,000 picking down payments over conventional weddings; it is not a concern of low-income people only.

However, when the number rises to 87% for people earning below $50,000, it becomes apparent that homeownership has become such a big deal that most people are ready to forgo yet another life achievement in order to increase the chances of owning a home.

Choose your priorities

If youre torn between planning a wedding and taking the next step in the homebuying process, Litwak says to make a conscious choice about your priorities.

Choosing your priorities as a couple and then basing your budget on them is the first thing you should do, he said. You cannot say that one way of celebrating the union is more correct than the other; however, you need to be aware of the compromises before making a significant wedding budget.

People have learned to achieve their goals of having a less expensive ceremony, yet celebrating the marriage and not compromising on it either by having an intimate wedding followed by the celebration afterward, or by having the celebration postponed till they buy their home.

Getting creative

Another important note: the survey isnt finding that marriage is on the decline. Instead, couples are getting creative in how they celebrate their union.

This is the story of how people have decided to change the meaning of a meaningful wedding, Litwak said. Couples are interested in celebrating an important moment of their lives.

However, now people see the need to integrate the celebration into their future. The fact is that in modern times, the most unforgettable weddings are not always the most spectacular ones. It is those weddings that give excitement about a new life. 3