Buy Now, Pay Later or Buy Now, Cry Later?

 

BY
MUHAMMAD AHMAD KHAN

Social Media Head

Hype Issue #82

Published on:

Jan 2

2026

 

MUHAMMAD AHMAD KHAN explores what all too often happens when youths take advantage of credit-based spending.

 

What Exactly Is ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’?

Ever tapped ‘Pay Later’ without thinking twice? 

The idea of spending money you do not have is not new in Singapore. Credit-based payment plans, widely known as Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), have been adopted in Singapore since the early 1950s, following the global expansion of banking. Back then, young people and students did not have access to such payment models at all, as only foreign banks offered such plans. Then came the emergence of student credit cards in the early 2000s, albeit their ownership was still heavily controlled by parental guidance.  

In the years since, we have witnessed the inexorable rise of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) schemes, due to the growth of technology and cashless payments. Easy access to such models has given youths a low barrier of entry to frequently spend on things such as private hire cabs, food delivery, or online stores, allowing these companies to pay for them upfront. Subsequently, users either repay the amount on a specific date or incur additional charges. 

According to the Straits Times, about 27.8 per cent of youths (aged 18 to 25) have trouble paying what they owe to BNPL services. Most youths today do not understand the potential consequences of using such models in the long run. What feels like convenience in the moment can quietly turn into a financial burden over time.

Why Are Youths Struggling?

As BNPL platforms become increasingly common in everyday spending, concerns are growing over how these payment systems are reshaping the financial habits of young people. Mr Alan Lok Kien Leong, a financial services director with more than 30 years of experience, noted that the issue was not one of recklessness but rather one of disconnection. 

“Today, money doesn’t feel like money anymore,” Mr Lok said. “With digital payments and BNPL options, the act of spending becomes frictionless. People don’t feel the pinch immediately, and that changes how they think about money.”

Unlike cash transactions, where the physical exchange of money serves as a psychological checkpoint, BNPL models allow purchases to be made instantly and often without reflection. Mr Lok observed that many youths now make frequent, small purchases — from café drinks to lifestyle items — without realising how quickly these costs accumulate. “It’s not that they are careless,” he explained. “It’s that the system makes spending feel painless.”

He added that the growing accessibility of BNPL services has further normalised deferred payment habits among young consumers. With multiple platforms offering similar services, individuals can move easily from one provider to another, often without a clear sense of how much debt they are accumulating across platforms. 

Mr Lok stressed that the issue goes beyond personal responsibility. He believed that the structure of modern financial tools plays a significant role in shaping spending behaviour, particularly among youths who may lack long-term financial experience. “If you don’t feel the pinch, you won’t change your behaviour,” he noted, adding that greater awareness and stronger safeguards are necessary to prevent young consumers from slipping into unsustainable debt.

Pet Sitter

(Photo credits: Muhammad Ahmad Khan)

Get Inspired, Start Saving

To understand how easily spending can spiral, I spoke with Zeenath Begum, a 23-year-old polytechnic student who works part-time on top of school. She recalled a period when her monthly expenses quietly crept up, often without her realising it. 

Between daily transport costs and small, frequent food purchases, she found herself spending close to $600 a month, an amount that only became apparent when she finally sat down to review her finances. “It didn’t feel like I was spending that much,” she shared. “It was just little amounts here and there, and before I knew it, it added up.”

Rather than saving, she was losing money because of the mindset she had fostered for herself, that she would always ‘be able to pay it back’. Zeenath shared that a big turning point for her was asking herself if she wanted to continue living like this. 

After her realisation, she created a separate savings account, where she sets aside a portion of her salary each month. She has also made some significant changes to her lifestyle to avoid using private hire cabs on BNPL payment options. 

“I don’t use Pay Later unless I really need to in an emergency or if I want a cheat day. But it can’t be a cheat day every day,” said Zeenath. 

While the rapid rise of BNPL services may be difficult to reverse, Zeenath’s experience serves as a reminder that financial awareness still begins at an individual level. Her story highlights how easily small, everyday expenses can accumulate and how intentional spending habits will make a tangible difference. 

BNPL is not going away anytime soon. It is built for speed, convenience, and comfort. But, before the next time you tap “Pay Later,” it might be worth slowing down and asking yourself a simple question: 

Would I still buy this if I had to pay for it right now? 

Sometimes, the most powerful form of financial control is not earning more but knowing when to tap and pause instead.