BNPL: Reshaping Consumer Behavior and Financial Habits in Mexico

For decades, consumer behavior in retail has been largely shaped by instant gratification. Promotions, discounts, and limited-time offers have long driven a “buy now, think later” mentality. But in recent years, and particularly across markets like Mexico, this model is starting to shift. Shoppers are becoming more intentional, more thoughtful, and more financially strategic in how they make purchasing decisions.
One of the key drivers of this transformation? Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions.

The rise of BNPL is not just introducing a new payment option, it’s influencing the mindset behind the purchase itself. Instead of paying up front or resorting to traditional credit cards (often burdened with high interest and unclear terms), consumers are embracing flexible payments that match their income cycles.

Recent consumer research shows this shift in action. In a Kueski survey of over 5,000 shoppers conducted in Mexico during the 2025 promotional season, more than 80% of respondents said they compared prices across different stores before buying, and only 30% made spontaneous purchases.

Planning is becoming the default, not the exception. BNPL has quietly reinforced this behavior by allowing people to think not only about what they want , but how and when they can pay for it, without risking financial instability.

Why Consumers Are Turning Away from Traditional Credit

Part of the appeal of BNPL lies in its simplicity. In many Latin American markets, credit cards still carry a stigma, often associated with debt traps, hidden fees, or requirements that exclude large parts of the population.

Younger generations, in particular, are showing clear signs of disengagement from traditional financial tools. For them, BNPL offers something that credit rarely has: transparency. No fine print. No revolving interest. Just a clear timeline of payments aligned to their budget.

A growing number of consumers say they’re more likely to complete a purchase if BNPL is offered at checkout, not because they want to stretch beyond their means but because they want control over how they manage their spending.

BNPL and Financial Inclusion

BNPL’s impact goes beyond convenience. It’s playing a tangible role in financial inclusion by giving access to people who have been historically excluded from traditional credit systems: those without credit scores, banking relationships, or even bank accounts.

In regions where banking penetration is still uneven, BNPL represents an opportunity to build financial habits on consumers’ terms. It’s not just about offering credit, it’s about giving people agency over their own financial choices.

A clear example is what’s happening in Mexico, where BNPL providers, including local players like Kueski, have helped millions of consumers gain access to formal payment solutions for the first time. Importantly, nearly 90% of surveyed users said they felt safer using a BNPL product than other digital payment options.

Planning, Not Postponing

One common misconception is that BNPL encourages impulsive shopping. In reality, it’s enabling the opposite. By offering short-term, interest-free payments, BNPL allows consumers to fit purchases into their lives without disruption. This doesn’t necessarily mean buying more, it means buying smarter. Instead of maxing out a credit card, shoppers now take the time to evaluate their needs, compare options, and commit to a payment plan that makes sense for them.

In the same Kueski survey, 63% of BNPL users said they wouldn’t have completed their purchase without the option to pay later. This highlights that BNPL is not simply a nice-to-have, it’s a financial tool that enables access, particularly for middle- and lower-income consumers.

From Financial Product to Lifestyle Enabler

What’s emerging is a new model of consumption, one where people make decisions not just based on price or urgency, but based on how a product or service fits into their financial lives.

BNPL is at the heart of that model. It encourages people to ask: Can I afford this now? What does the payment timeline look like? Does this align with my financial goals?

In doing so, it helps shift the purchasing conversation away from urgency and toward ownership, stability, and transparency.

What Comes Next

As the demand for flexible, transparent financial tools continues to rise, BNPL will likely evolve beyond e-commerce into everyday use cases, from healthcare to education to essential services.

But the real impact will be cultural. If the current trends continue, BNPL may be remembered not just as a payment innovation, but as a turning point in how people think about money, especially in markets like Mexico and across Latin America.

Consumers aren’t just changing how they pay, they’re changing why, when, and with what confidence they pay. BNPL isn’t replacing traditional credit, it’s redefining what responsible, modern financial behavior can look like.