Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™.

A recent study released by Lending Tree revealed that a lot of Americans are using buy now, pay later (BNPL) loans from companies like Klarna and Affirm to buy groceries (25%, up from 14% in 2024). As economic fears mount and uncertainty about the economy continues, people are turning to financing their everyday necessities. But using BNPL loan services is a mistake, especially for those who struggle with debt.

BNPL is an interest-free loan, allowing consumers to split their purchase into smaller payments. For those who have an issue with credit cards or deal with debt, this could be an alternative. But if you begin making late payments, you can be charged high fees, which is a problem for those who have multiple loans. While the existence of BNPL loans isn’t necessarily a problem, how they’ve come to be used is concerning.

Recently, DoorDash announced its plans to accept BNPL financing through Klarna for food deliveries. The announcement was met with ridicule at the idea of consumers being unable to afford a hamburger and fries. But we shouldn’t be so quick to judge. The reality is that even fast food chains like Popeyes and McDonald’s can now cost as much as a night out at a restaurant. Inflation is a problem everywhere, but especially when it comes to food. Since 2021, the price of groceries has increased by 23%, according to CNN, which has led to more Americans using BNPL to pay for groceries.

I understand why BNPL loans could be appealing to someone who has been burned by the use of credit cards, but that doesn’t make them any less predatory. Using any kind of loan comes with a risk. Unfortunately, Americans have to be willing to take that risk. That’s because our leaders stand idly by while everyday Americans struggle to pay their bills or purchase food. Companies should be creating services to bring the prices of food down, not enabling bad decisions; instead, their loans have become a necessary evil as life gets more expensive. Consumers will pile on more and more loans, risk missing payments, and pay even more money in fees, creating a never-ending cycle of debt. As prices rise across sectors, more and more of us will probably need to lean on credit cards or BNPL to purchase necessary things like food instead of building the economy through frivolous purchases.

With trade wars, inflation, and even student loan debt collection, we will have a lot of tough choices to make in the months ahead when it comes to budgeting. We should focus only on the necessary purchases like food and rent but shouldn’t lean on buy now, pay later, as a way to alleviate any financial stress. The risks are too great and could keep you in a debt cycle you can’t get out of.