52% of consumers have used flexible financing options in the past, with younger consumers (66% of Gen Z and 48% of millennials) leading the charge, according to a new survey from CouponBirds. 68% BNPL users noted that they would likely increase their usage if tariffs impact prices. 27% of those surveyed said they are “very likely” to increase buy now, pay later usage if prices increase, while 41% said they are “somewhat likely.” Even among those who have never used buy now, pay later programs before, 43% report they would consider it if tariffs cause significant price increases. Increasingly, BNPL programs are being used for basic needs. Gen Z (51%) and Gen X (24%) lead all age groups in using these services to finance healthcare costs, a stark contrast to baby boomers at just 12%. Overall, 42% of BNPL users say they’ve used it to make their medical expenses more affordable. While 24% of all users report using these services for rent, mortgage, or utilities, the number jumps to 32% among Gen Z and 19% among millennials. With increased usage comes looming payments. According to the survey, over the past year, 51% of Gen Z users have missed at least one payment, significantly higher than millennials (41%), Gen X (32%) and baby boomers (18%). Among Gen Z users who paid late, 38% report multiple missed payments, while those earning under $50,000 annually are nearly twice as likely to miss payments as their higher-earning counterparts. Among all BNPL users, 66% report being “very confident” in their ability to make payments, while 27% said they are “somewhat confident” and 5% are not very confident.