Burrito now, pay later

Today, Explained

Vox

Daily News, Politics, News

4.4 • 9.5K Ratings

🗓️ 25 June 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Americans are turning to "buy now, pay later" apps for purchases as small as a burrito—it’s a symptom of a larger national addiction to debt. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Gabrielle Berbey, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. Further reading: In This Economy? by Kyla Scanlon.Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Photo of a Klarna holiday celebration by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Klarna. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	There is one company that 90% of U.S. lenders check with before they decide whether to give you a loan for a house or for a car.
0:10.2	It's a credit rating agency called FICO.
0:12.8	Now this week, FICO announced that when it calculates your credit score, it's going to include for the first time ever your buy now pay later purchases.
0:22.8	Buy now pay later companies are everywhere.
0:28.3	Klarna just partnered with DoorDash. You can put a burrito on payments. And if that seems unwise,
0:34.2	well, Clarnas CEO told CNN, yes, he in fact agrees. Like why even offer that option?
0:39.9	Yes. And that is unwise. I would not recommend anyone to put a burrito on Binape later for clarity.
0:45.5	Coming up on today, explained, is Burrito now pay later a great deal or just another debt trap?
0:48.6	How much is that burrito in the window with Barnarnah, it comes home with me.
0:57.0	How much?
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	...

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