Essentials

Buy-now-pay-later affordability calculator

Pay-in-4 splits a purchase across about six weeks. The trouble starts when several plans overlap. Add this buy to what you already owe. See how much of each paycheck the payments take.

Does it fit your paycheck?

Illustrative model · pay-in-4 is treated as four payments across six weeks

Each pay-in-4 payment ≈ the price split four ways.

This plan, every 2 weeks$50
All pay-later, every 2 weeks$50
Share of your spare cash8%
One planned purchase you can cover is the honest way to use pay-in-4.

How this is calculated

We split the purchase into four equal payments. Then we add what you already owe in the same two weeks. That total is what leaves your account each payday.

every 2 weeks = (this price ÷ 4) + other plans due · share = that ÷ your spare cash

The number that trips people up isn't one plan. It's three or four at once, each "small," landing in the same two weeks.

⚠ If it takes too much of your paycheck

A single plan under a fifth of your spare cash is manageable. Past that, you're stacking — and a missed auto-debit can overdraft you on top of the late fee.

Cheaper moves: wait a paycheck, buy secondhand, or use a card you pay off in full. Compare both essentials options on the essentials hub.

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