Back in my college years, when I was living with my parents, managing several (sadly) unpaid internships, and working with a very limited disposable income, I often relied on "buy now, pay later" platforms to help keep up with my shopping habits. Peruse sites like Nordstrom or Revolve, and you're sure to spot any one of these payment alternatives; they're platforms that, quite literally, give people the freedom to purchase something in an instant and then pay for it in increments and over a designated period of time. In my case, they often helped with steeper purchases like buying a quality blazer for a job interview or splurging on a thoughtful gift for a loved one; the platforms gave me enough breathing room to make bigger, exciting purchases (even within my tight college budget) and then pay it back at a pace that felt more manageable and comfortable for me.
It was pretty amazing in hindsight, especially for a young woman still trying to figure out her finances. Little did I know (at least up until very recently) that these sorts of services actually extend far beyond the retail space — now, through platforms like Afterpay , they're also viable options for booking travel. Long gone are the days of simply using "buy now, pay later" services to stock up on wardrobe essentials or update your beauty arsenal; you can now streamline your travel booking and coordinate everything from flights to hotel stays, all through a single app and with payments that are spread out over tim.
