The end of the year is rushing closer, and with it a sense of urgency for consumers to plan their big-ticket expenses and Festive Season shopping smartly.
Craig Newborn, CEO at PayJustNow, says, “Incurring hefty credit card costs for purchases over Black Friday or the Festive Season can leave consumers with unwanted debt that will only add to Januworry.”
South African consumers are under pressure from a cost-of-living crisis and low levels of economic growth, with eight in ten consumers saying they are feeling money stresses. This has led many to take on additional debt, with a recent household survey finding that 44% of consumers are struggling to pay off debt.
Newborn advises that consumers find smart ways to cover big-ticket end-of-year purchases by seeking financing options that suit their pockets. “The end of the year is often a time of family holidays, road trips, Christmas and Black Friday shopping, and buying back-to-school supplies. In the current economy, this requires smart thinking around how to budget and how to use innovative payment options to maintain healthy cash flow.”
Newborn points out five common end-of-year purchases that often leave consumers paying off credit card debt and costly interest rate payments in the new year:
1. Road trips
South Africans love to take to the open road over December holidays. But worn-out tyres or an unexpected puncture due to a pesky pothole, could leave consumers forking over a hefty portion of their holiday funds for new tyres.
“Several automotive fitment centres such as Tiger Wheel and Tyre offer buy-now-pay-later as a payment option, allowing consumers to split the cost into three interest-free payments while fitting their new tyres immediately, and only needing to fulfil the next third of their instalment on their next salary date.”
2. Family holidays
Road trips are not for everyone. Some holiday-makers prefer the speedy travel of direct flights to their holiday destination. But last-minute flights can be very costly, especially during peak holiday periods.
Newborn points to the recently-launched buy-now-pay-later travel service offered by PayJustNow as a potential cost-saving measure for holiday travellers. “Consumers can book their seat now and make three interest-free payments to ensure they don’t miss out on KeDezemba.”
3. Hosting friends and family
The end of the year is a time to celebrate with friends and family. It is also a time when consumers may need items such as decor, furniture, linen and loadshedding essentials to ensure they can host in style.
Consumers can and should anticipate these costs well ahead of the end of the year and use the time wisely to find special deals and promotions.
4. Christmas presents
December is the month of giving and is traditionally the top month for retailers as millions of consumers flock to the stores.
In the lead up to the festive season, it’s important that consumers avoid the temptation to use interest bearing credit on items like Christmas gifts, especially around Black Friday, when shopper hype is at its peak. Newborn advises that you plan your gifting, and only purchase what you intend to, ensuring that the price point is within your budget.
“If you are needing to stretch your budget a little further to make that one special purchase, a growing list of retailers have adopted buy-now-pay-later, which gives you the benefit of splitting your purchase into three interest-free payments.” says Newborn. “Think everything from Toy Kingdom for your little one, to NWJ for that special someone.”
5. Back-to-school supplies
As Christmas comes to a close and the new year arrives, parents’ attention will shift to preparing for the new school year. Items such as school uniforms, stationery and other essential school supplies can put additional pressure on consumers still reeling from Festive Season purchases.
Newborn recommends that consumers start planning now and find budget-friendly options for key purchases, including using PayJustNow’s Deals page as a resource for retail offers and promotions. “Buy-now-pay-later offers consumers a smarter, more responsible and more financially-savvy way to afford big-ticket purchases without incurring long-term debt. By prioritising financial health, consumers can enjoy the festive season that much more knowing they have kept their finances healthy and free from worry.”
