To think if you’re buying luxury goods on Klarna, you can’t afford them?

[ThatHonestOchreSloth]

It’s not classist. It’s just maths.

It would be better for the planet without a doubt, but I genuinely don't know the consequence for the economy if people stopped buying needless and non-essential rubbish.

Nail salons must be thriving, they are absolutely everywhere. What would they do if people stopped wasting money there?
No one needs a new kettle every 2 months, but apparently some need to update the look of their kitchen on a regular basis.

Surely it's not a case of can't afford and more like can't budget?

I was diagnosed with auhd last year. I struggle to budget and save. I'd really struggle to save up say 400 for my sons switch, not because I can't afford it, but because I struggle to save money and not spend it 😅 ...... it's easier for me to pay for the switch bit by bit rather than try to save

Loads of people pay their holidays over the space of a year ect, it's exactly the same isn't it?

It’s not about what people can do - it’s about what we normalise. Of course anyone can spend however they want and I’m not saying people should be shamed for it. But when something can only be afforded by stretching payments across several months, that’s worth reflecting on. Not because I care about someone’s handbag but because we’re in a culture where financial strain gets masked as savvy consumption. That’s not a personal attack, it’s a broader social pattern. There’s room to talk about that without making it about individual judgement.

Only on Mumsnet would you have people claiming that they use Klarna and similar so that they can keep their big wads of accessible cash in their savings accounts instead 😂😂😂

Yanbu op. Im reality, we all know what Klarna and similar are for - short term consumer debt, for those who can't afford to buy what they want right this second and don't want to wait the x weeks or months to afford it.

Hard relate to this. I have adhd and my budgeting skills are below par. I can pay things off no problem. Never late on a bill. If I buy something on credit I never miss a payment. Ask me to save for something though and I struggle.

Because I think it says something about the culture we’re creating. If more and more people feel they have to use credit or BNPL to access non-essentials, that’s not just a private decision, it reflects wider pressures around lifestyle, image and affordability. I’m not against financial tools. I just think we should be honest about when they’re used strategically versus when they’re papering over deeper issues. It’s not about judging individuals, it’s about questioning the norms.

Klarna you have to pay back in full in 30 days though?

I use it when online shopping so that I can order multiple styles/sizes, and not have to worry about waiting for a refund once I’ve sent unkept items back.
its made shopping so much easier for me.

It's pay in 3. So you can pay 1 when you purchase, 1 the next month and the last one the month after.

I am exactly the same. I cannot save at all. I would love to!

I have found little ways to help though...... I overpay my rent all year so come October I have a full month's rent that I don't have to pay..... I then use this towards Xmas and birthday presents ( my kids born November and January 🤣 ) and I top up extra on my gas every week so come colder months I don't have to top up any extra 😅

You irritated because you’ve got the same designer bag as a povvo, OP? 😂
Can’t imagine having any mental energy to expend on this. Even if I split it into three 😉

I used Klarna to buy boots in the winter - it was quite literally Vimes Boots. And it's none of your business.

I agree that things like Klarna can be beneficial for some things.

But in the main, they encourage people to spend money they don't have because the headline shifts from the total cost to the much lower cost to pay today.

It also encourages overspending. If someone has a budget of £150 for a purchase they will be more inclined to spend more overall when the cost is split into installments. So let's say they choose something for £150, but they only have to pay £50 today. They're then more likely to buy something else because they have £100 left. This is the reason retailers sign up for installments. Because the transaction amounts are higher.

Is it interest feee as well? Because if is is, even though I’ve never heard of Klarna, then it would seem like a sensible bit of cash management to use it!

That’s exactly the tension, isn’t it? Our economy depends on constant consumption but that doesn’t mean every aspect of that model is healthy or sustainable - financially or environmentally. I’m not saying people should never spend on non-essentials but we rarely talk about how “normal” spending habits are often propped up by debt or pressure to keep up appearances. There’s a difference between keeping industries alive and fuelling lifestyles that quietly stretch people beyond their means.

I use Klarna but always pay in full. It's because I prefer to order lots of options and invariably send a lot back.

And I have several handbags worth more now secondhand than I paid for them new.

I actually think given how much I’ve had to fork out to maintain my house with new roof, windows, doors, kitchen, putting in central heating etc, my handbags have been a better investment.

Such a sneery OP.

A house is an appreciating asset

Not always

I think what you’re describing makes total sense: for some people, spreading payments isn’t about lack of income but about how they manage it day to day. That’s a different context to what I was originally getting at.

My OP was more about the normalisation of BNPL for luxury items people can’t comfortably afford up front and haven’t budgeted for, which can lead to longer-term financial strain. But yes, there’s nuance here. Paying in instalments can absolutely be a helpful tool depending on someone’s circumstances - it just depends how and why it’s being used.

This feels so similar to the numerous weight loss injection threads. People always need someone to look down on.

Not when people are using it on things like Just Eat and paying their take away over 3 months. Thats madness

Me three

Using Klarna for things like sizing or fit makes sense, especially if you’re planning to return items. That’s a practical use and not what I was referring to.

My post was more about the cultural shift where BNPL is being used to stretch for luxury purchases people can’t realistically afford, not temporary holds while deciding what to keep. Two very different intentions, even if the tool is the same.

Not at all - I’m just not in the habit of outsourcing my self-worth to handbags, however they’re paid for. But if we’re trading zingers, at least you didn’t have to split the sarcasm into three.

Yes it is unless you miss a payment.

Not when people are using it on things like Just Eat and paying their take away over 3 months. Thats madness

That is madness but what did people use before Klarna?