Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services like Afterpay, Klarna, and Affirm have surged in popularity by offering interest-free installment plans with no credit checks, especially appealing to younger shoppers. Users like Amelia Schmarzo initially saw them as budget-friendly tools but quickly fell into debt due to easy approvals and repeated use across multiple platforms. These companies profit not from interest but by charging merchants steep fees—4% to 9.5% per transaction—making them attractive partners for retailers aiming to boost sales and reduce cart abandonment. This shift threatens traditional credit card revenue and changes consumer spending behavior. However, BNPL usage often goes unreported to credit bureaus—until now. Starting this fall, these loans will appear on credit reports, potentially impacting users' financial futures. While BNPL can help those without access to credit, it carries risks, particularly for vulnerable groups like Black and Hispanic women who use it for essentials. Without financial literacy, the convenience can lead to late payments and deeper debt, pushing some, like Amelia, to abandon the services entirely after hard lessons.