Key stat: One in 3 buy now, pay later (BNPL) users who rely on the product for monthly expenses and essentials say they sometimes don't know when their next payment is due, according to a December survey from PYMNTS Intelligence.

Beyond the chart:

• The stakes are higher than a missed alert. First-time homebuyers who are frequent BNPL users are 8% more likely to miss a mortgage payment within the first year, per JPMorgan Chase Institute data, and for lower-income FHA homeowners experiencing job loss, BNPL can account for 20% of all spending.
• Meanwhile, the consumers most likely to lose track of payments are also the ones BNPL depends on most. Some 43.4% of BNPL users cite approval speed and ease as their primary reason for choosing the product over card-linked alternatives, per PYMNTS Intelligence.

Use this chart: Drop this in your next payments or retail credit meeting to show where BNPL's blind spots are biggest. Use the side-by-side to show your risk or product team how purchase type changes payment awareness, and flag where essentials spending is creating the most exposure.

Related EMARKETER reports:

• US Consumer Payment Method Trends 2026 (EMARKETER subscription required)
• Payments Trends to Watch in 2026 (EMARKETER subscription required)

Methodology: Data is from February 2026 PYMNTS Intelligence report titled "Pay Later Ecosystem Report: Pay Later Moves Into the Monthly Budget." 3,743 US adults ages 18+ were surveyed during December 10-29, 2025. Respondents had made at least one purchase in the past 3 months.

We prepared this article with the assistance of generative AI tools and stand behind its accuracy, quality, and originality.