The buy now pay later problem.

This is one of those things that can feel harmless on the surface, especially when the payments look small and manageable. I completely understand why people are drawn to it.

When something is broken into smaller amounts, it feels easier to fit into your life, and it can feel like you are being responsible by spreading it out. But the issue is not just whether you can make the payments. The bigger issue is how these programs change the way you think about spending in the first place.

Buy now pay later works because it shifts your focus away from the full cost. Instead of asking yourself if you can afford the item as a whole, you start asking if you can afford the first payment. That might not seem like a big difference, but it completely changes your decision making.

When you are faced with the full price upfront, there is a natural pause. You feel the cost, you think it through, and you decide if it actually fits into your budget. That pause is important because it protects you from making impulsive decisions. When that pause is removed and replaced with smaller payments, it becomes much easier to justify spending in the moment, even if it does not truly fit.

What I see happen over time is that people do not just use these services once. They start using them here and there because it feels manageable, and then those payments begin to stack. Before they realize it, they are juggling multiple payment plans at once.

At that point, it is no longer about one purchase. It is about the fact that your future income is already committed before you even receive it. Your paycheck is not just covering your current expenses, it is covering past decisions, and that can create a constant feeling of pressure without people fully understanding why.

This is why I personally do not recommend using buy now pay later. It is not because I think people are irresponsible or doing something wrong. It is because of what these programs encourage over time. They encourage you to disconnect from the full cost of what you are buying. They make it easier to say yes in the moment without fully thinking through the long-term impact. And they normalize borrowing for things that should be paid for with money you already have. That shift in behavior is where the real risk is.

I also think this has gotten out of hand. Financing used to be something people associated with larger, planned purchases. Now it is being offered for everyday spending like groceries, takeout, clothes, and small impulse buys. That is a big shift, and it is not one that is helping people build stronger financial habits. It is making it easier to live slightly ahead of what you can actually afford, and that gap adds up over time.

There are also real consequences if something goes wrong. If you miss a payment, you can be charged late fees, your account can be restricted, and depending on the provider, missed payments can be reported to credit bureaus. Even if the impact is not immediate or severe, it still creates more stress, more financial clutter, and more to keep track of. What started as something that felt simple can quickly become another layer of obligation in your life.

For me, it comes down to one simple rule. If I do not have the money to cover the full cost today, I do not buy it. That does not mean I never want things or that I do not understand the appeal of making payments. It just means I choose to give myself that pause. That space to decide if something truly fits into my life without creating stress later. Because almost anything can feel affordable when it is broken into smaller pieces, but that does not mean it actually is.

I would much rather make decisions based on what I can fully afford today than rely on a system that makes spending feel easier in the moment but harder to manage later.

It’s almost that time again, and honestly this is one of my favorite parts of the year.

In the next few weeks, I’ll be pulling the farmstand out of winter mode, washing everything down, and getting it ready for opening day.

When I open it back up, I’ll have fresh sourdough out there again along with some new natural skincare products from Pine Manor Naturals that I’ve been working on. It’s always a mix of what I’m making, what I’m excited about, and what I think people will actually use and enjoy.

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how I started my little roadside farmstand, and I love that, because it’s one of those things that feels a lot bigger than it actually is when you’re just getting started.

If you’re thinking about doing something like this, the first thing I would say is keep it simple. You don’t need a huge setup or a big investment to begin. Start with what you already have and build from there. The goal is just to start!

For me, everything I sell is something I was already doing in my everyday life. Baking sourdough, creating skincare, growing things in my garden, and collecting eggs. It naturally turned into something I could share. You don’t need a long list of products either. A few really good things is more than enough. There are months were I only sell eggs, and that’s okay!

I also think it’s important to make it easy for people to buy from you. Whether that’s a simple cash box, Venmo, or another easy payment option, the less friction there is, the better. I have learned a lot of my customers prefer Venmo.

Consistency matters more than anything. When people start to see your stand regularly, they begin to expect it, look for it, and come back. That only happens if you keep showing up. I am still working on this!

Now on the business side, there are a few things you should think through before you start selling.

You’ll want to look into getting a business license in your area. This is usually pretty straightforward, but it’s important to be set up properly from the beginning. If you plan on selling baked goods like sourdough, you should also look into your state’s cottage food laws. Those rules determine what you’re allowed to make and sell from home, and they can vary depending on where you live.

It’s also worth thinking about whether you want to stay local with a farmstand or expand into markets and events. Right now, I personally choose not to do markets. I like the simplicity of having everything right here at home, and it fits better with my life and my schedule. But that’s a personal decision, and it’s something you can always grow into later if you want to.

My farmstand itself is custom built, but if you’re looking for something similar, I found a building plan that is really close to mine that could be a great starting point if you want to build one yourself:

I also put together an Amazon list of things I personally used for my farmstand setup.

And if you’re curious about what I use in my day to day, I’ve shared those here too:

My favorite baking items and my favorite gardening items.

This whole thing started small for me. It wasn’t some big, perfectly thought out plan. It was just me doing what I already loved and finding a way to share it.

And I think that’s the part people overcomplicate the most.

You don’t need everything figured out. You just need to start.

While there’s not an exact roadmap to follow for combining finances, there are several principles that can certainly make the process easier. Here’s what to consider.

In this episode, we walk through a real budget submission from a community member who is rebuilding her finances after a difficult divorce while raising three young kids.

The Building Blocks of Budgeting is the complete budgeting system I created after years of trial, error, and real-life experience. This course walks you through seven core building blocks, with step-by-step lessons, worksheets, and videos, so you can create a realistic plan, pay off debt, grow your savings, and build lasting confidence with your money. It’s self-paced, includes lifetime access, and is designed to help you build a budget that honors your life, goals, and values.

A few gems from the past to check out:

Use this money checklist to ensure you remain intentional with your money in March!

Until next time,