{
  "id": 2219382,
  "title": "The Economy Is So Bad That People Are Using Klarna for Rent and Utilities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/the-economy-is-so-bad-that-people-are-using-klarna-for-rent-and",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-20T20:09:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurism",
    "slug": "futurism",
    "url": "https://futurism.com/future-society/economy-bnpl-rent-utilities"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The American economy finds itself in a dire state, leading some individuals to utilize \"buy-now, pay-later\" (BNPL) services like Klarna for essential expenses such as rent and utility bills. This phenomenon, highlighted by a survey conducted by LendingTree, reveals that half of the respondents who use BNPL loans would struggle to make ends meet without this option. In 2025, US consumers spent nearly $160 billion through BNPL loans. Experts note that BNPL has become a crucial source of working capital for the modern middle class, used for various needs including medical and dental care, as well as recurring expenses like rent and utility bills. Baltimore resident Ashley Reed, who maxed out her credit cards after a family medical emergency, now uses BNPL loans like Klarna to cover essential bills, paying around $700 a month to reduce her debt. While BNPL loans provide temporary relief for those facing financial strain, they are merely a short-term solution for a deeper issue of affordability. Lauren Sanders, an attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, acknowledges that BNPL loans help address the real need for immediate funds but warns that they merely add fees to consumers' monthly budgets, leaving them in a precarious position the following week.",
  "summary": "\"It’s a roller-coaster ride, up and down — I can't afford to have an emergency.\" The post The Economy Is So Bad That People Are Using Klarna for Rent and Utilities appeared first on Futurism .",
  "key_points": [
    "People using Klarna for rent and utilities due to severe economic conditions.",
    "Survey by LendingTree: half of BNPL users struggle without this option.",
    "BNPL loans provide short-term relief, not long-term solution to affordability."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}