I am a huge online shopper, working in a mall I started to hate in-store shopping because in my opinion, whenever people shop in-stores it usually leads to purchases that they don't actually need. IMPULSE SHOPPING IS REAL OKAY. I am a victim to it. Walking into an H&M or Forever 21 I see a cute crop top and I automatically think wow I need this because it is so cheap and I can wear it when I go out next (I never go out). It is a waste of time, fabric, and money. So I try to stray away from in-store shopping because when I'm sitting my hiney on the couch with my laptop it gives me more time to see what products stores have and I'm able to really think if I want to add into my cart or not. There is no impulse whatsoever, unless you're a last minute shopper and you need to find a cute dress for your friends birthday party that's in two days, deep breathes.
ANYWAYS.
Lately when I go onto websites such as Nasty Gal, Forever 21, or even health websites like Campus Protein and Sparta Nutrition (your girl loves her protein and pre-workout), I see at the bottom of my screen an amazing thing. It has four words and it is music to my ears, "Shop Now, Pay Later". I automatically get more invested into what that is exactly and needless to say, I.am.hooked. Recently, there have been a popular rise to alternate payment platforms, which are interest free installment plans for online stores. A few of those alternative payment companies include Sezzle, After Pay, and zipMoney, to name a few. Here is an example for those who are a little rough when it comes to money and spending. So say I am on Nasty Gal's website, a site which has an alternate payment platform available, and I purchase some new Chelsea boots which are $47.99. You add them into your cart and begin the check out process, then you see payment options and there is After Pay. You choose that option and it will tell you how much your payments will be. You have to make a login for AfterPay and of course include your card info. Basically it is if you're someone who wants to feel better about spending money on an item, even though in totality, you are still paying full price.
AfterPay has no additional fees, it is four installments, and no interest! You make a payment every two weeks and then finito. One thing that is important is these alternative payment platforms are available for orders $35 and up! Which does make sense because if you buy some clearance jewelry at Forever 21, what are you just going to make four payments of $1? No, that makes no sense. As a frequent online shopper, if a site has a payment plan available, I use it because when I'm making a bigger purchase (yes, I am cheap and $35 or up is bigger to me) then I like to think "Oh wow just $10 for this now, that is a deal" and since I get paid every two weeks, it works out. It makes me feel better about spending! I'm a dumb millennial too so my spending "tricks" might seem completely ludicrous to some.
If you think you would be interested in choosing alternative payment platforms, here are some stores that do it!
Nastygal (Afterpay)
Campus Protein (Afterpay)
Barbell (Affirm)
Forever21 (Afterpay)
AKIRA (Sezzle)
Rebecca Minkoff (Afterpay)
Urban Outfitters (Afterpay)
Steve Madden (Afterpay)
Sparta Nutrition (Sezzle)
TOBI (Sezzle)
YETI (Affirm)
Boohoo (Afterpay)
Good American (Affirm)
Tradesy (Affirm)
David Yurman (Affirm)
...and that is just a few!
Here are the links for these platforms so you can go onto their provided store directories to see if your stores have a payment plan available! Now time to shop!
https://www.afterpay.com/categories/all-stores
https://www.affirm.com/buy-with-affirm/
https://sezzle.com/stores
Until next time,
"There is nothing more pleasing to the eye than receiving an order confirmed email"-Sophia Marren
XOXOXO
