The relationship between responsible financial behaviours and financial wellbeing: The case of buy-now-pay-later

Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) in Australia is a rapidly growing payment innovation. Regulators and consumer groups have expressed concerns at the financial risks posed by BNPL. As BNPL is not regulated under consumer credit law, financial regulator and consumer groups have recommended that BNPL users adopt a range of responsible financial behaviours for their financial wellbeing. This study, using a survey of BNPL users and structural equation modelling, shows a link between most of these recommended financially responsible behaviours and financial wellbeing and that the financial behaviours of younger users (aged under 25) place them at greater risk of reduced financial wellbeing.