Remember saving up before buying? This $19,000 Afterpay bill shows this generation’s doing the opposite
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Financial tools meant to make life easier can sometimes lead to unexpected consequences—especially when convenience turns into a costly habit.
One popular payment option has come under fire after disturbing revelations about how quickly spending can spiral out of control.
What began as a routine way to manage expenses has exposed a deeper issue affecting thousands of Australians.
A young woman’s candid online confession peeled back the glossy surface of 'buy now, pay later' services, revealing a troubling reality that resonated with thousands of Australians.
At just 21, Hobart resident Shyneka Long made a startling discovery about her financial habits—one that shocked even her. In a video posted to social media, she shared her regret over racking up a jaw-dropping $19,000 in Afterpay purchases in only two years.
‘This is your sign to literally delete Afterpay or go and look at your bank statements and see how much you’ve spent on Afterpay in the last two years,’ she urged.
Her video quickly struck a nerve.
‘I'm really about to expose myself but in the last two years I have spent $19,000 on Afterpay. What the f****,’ she said. ‘I could have had a f****** car. Is there an addiction anonymous for Afterpay? Because where do I sign my whole family up. This is bad, this is so bad.’
The comments section lit up with equally shocking admissions, with one person writing: ‘I'm going to hold your hand when I tell you, mine since 2023 is $62,815.’
Another added: ‘I might take the cake—$122,502.’
Others revealed that their families had been dragged into the debt cycle.
‘My mum had to get Centrelink loans to pay hers back,’ one person wrote.
Another admitted: ‘45k in 2 years, but I've had it since like 2018...I'm actually ashamed.’
One user seemed almost relieved to be on the lower end of the scale: ‘Omg I just checked mine and thought I’d be the same but it’s only at $5,885. I’ll keep the app.’
For some, the consequences were already severe. ‘I got banned from Afterpay when I bought too much and couldn’t pay it all off on time, eventually paid it all just way later than they wanted,’ one woman confessed.
Others chimed in with personal strategies to keep their BNPL spending in check.
‘I have a rule for Afterpay: only one at a time, and always wait a month before buying something new/starting a new one,’ someone advised.
Another offered a more positive spin: ‘Afterpay can be a really good tool for getting things you want. I’ve been investing in slow fashion with Afterpay + stuff I’ve needed like quality luggage etc.’
Source: TikTok/shynekalong
For those unfamiliar, Afterpay is a popular BNPL service that allows consumers to buy items with no upfront cost, instead repaying the total in four interest-free instalments over six weeks. However, if repayments weren’t made on time, users were hit with high interest charges—something many customers seemed unaware of until it was too late.
By late 2024, BNPL services such as Afterpay, Zip Pay and Klarna had become widespread, used by two in five Australians in the previous six months. They were ranked just behind credit cards and home loans as the most-used credit products in the country.
Millennials made up the largest group of users at 38 per cent, followed by Gen Z at 13 per cent. Alarmingly, up to 15 per cent of Gen Z customers didn’t believe these lenders would assess their credit scores at all.
That lack of awareness may soon become a problem.
As of 10 June, new laws came into effect that brought BNPL providers under the same regulations as traditional credit card companies. They were now required to hold Australian credit licences, conduct mandatory credit checks, and enforce stricter borrowing limits.
Customers who already had BNPL accounts would not be subjected to retroactive checks, but anyone signing up from this point forward would face tighter scrutiny. These loans would also begin to impact credit scores more significantly—affecting eligibility for personal loans, mortgages and credit cards. Missed or late repayments would now be flagged as debt.
An Afterpay spokesperson responded to the growing concern, saying that the platform was designed to help users manage their spending responsibly.
‘We believe everyone should have access to a safe, simple and transparent way to manage spending—whether it’s everyday essentials, unexpected expenses, or one-off purchases,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Afterpay is a free service for consumers who pay on time and a much safer and affordable alternative to traditional credit, which can charge interest rates of more than 20 per cent.’
‘Our product has a number of in-built safety features to protect customers from harm. Our current model exposes customers to the lowest possible risk.’
Still, as Shyneka Long and many others have shown, the convenience of spreading out payments can quickly become a slippery slope—one that’s left more than just a few Australians in financial freefall.
Stories like these show just how easily these services can spiral—but behind the scenes, the rules are changing.
If you’re wondering what that means for you or your loved ones, this short video breaks it down.
Source: Youtube/9 News Australia
With the rise of easy credit options and changing financial habits, do you think today's younger generations truly understand the value of money? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at expert warnings about Afterpay Plus—a premium version of the service that’s raising eyebrows among financial advisers.
For those keeping a close eye on their spending, understanding the risks behind these upgraded options is just as important as tracking everyday expenses.
If you’re curious about how Afterpay Plus stacks up, it’s well worth a look.
Read more: Why you should be wary of Afterpay Plus according to financial experts
One popular payment option has come under fire after disturbing revelations about how quickly spending can spiral out of control.
What began as a routine way to manage expenses has exposed a deeper issue affecting thousands of Australians.
A young woman’s candid online confession peeled back the glossy surface of 'buy now, pay later' services, revealing a troubling reality that resonated with thousands of Australians.
At just 21, Hobart resident Shyneka Long made a startling discovery about her financial habits—one that shocked even her. In a video posted to social media, she shared her regret over racking up a jaw-dropping $19,000 in Afterpay purchases in only two years.
‘This is your sign to literally delete Afterpay or go and look at your bank statements and see how much you’ve spent on Afterpay in the last two years,’ she urged.
Young woman’s $19k Afterpay shock goes viral. Image source: TikTok/shynekalong
Her video quickly struck a nerve.
‘I'm really about to expose myself but in the last two years I have spent $19,000 on Afterpay. What the f****,’ she said. ‘I could have had a f****** car. Is there an addiction anonymous for Afterpay? Because where do I sign my whole family up. This is bad, this is so bad.’
The comments section lit up with equally shocking admissions, with one person writing: ‘I'm going to hold your hand when I tell you, mine since 2023 is $62,815.’
Another added: ‘I might take the cake—$122,502.’
Others revealed that their families had been dragged into the debt cycle.
‘My mum had to get Centrelink loans to pay hers back,’ one person wrote.
Another admitted: ‘45k in 2 years, but I've had it since like 2018...I'm actually ashamed.’
One user seemed almost relieved to be on the lower end of the scale: ‘Omg I just checked mine and thought I’d be the same but it’s only at $5,885. I’ll keep the app.’
For some, the consequences were already severe. ‘I got banned from Afterpay when I bought too much and couldn’t pay it all off on time, eventually paid it all just way later than they wanted,’ one woman confessed.
Others chimed in with personal strategies to keep their BNPL spending in check.
‘I have a rule for Afterpay: only one at a time, and always wait a month before buying something new/starting a new one,’ someone advised.
Another offered a more positive spin: ‘Afterpay can be a really good tool for getting things you want. I’ve been investing in slow fashion with Afterpay + stuff I’ve needed like quality luggage etc.’
Source: TikTok/shynekalong
For those unfamiliar, Afterpay is a popular BNPL service that allows consumers to buy items with no upfront cost, instead repaying the total in four interest-free instalments over six weeks. However, if repayments weren’t made on time, users were hit with high interest charges—something many customers seemed unaware of until it was too late.
By late 2024, BNPL services such as Afterpay, Zip Pay and Klarna had become widespread, used by two in five Australians in the previous six months. They were ranked just behind credit cards and home loans as the most-used credit products in the country.
Millennials made up the largest group of users at 38 per cent, followed by Gen Z at 13 per cent. Alarmingly, up to 15 per cent of Gen Z customers didn’t believe these lenders would assess their credit scores at all.
That lack of awareness may soon become a problem.
As of 10 June, new laws came into effect that brought BNPL providers under the same regulations as traditional credit card companies. They were now required to hold Australian credit licences, conduct mandatory credit checks, and enforce stricter borrowing limits.
Customers who already had BNPL accounts would not be subjected to retroactive checks, but anyone signing up from this point forward would face tighter scrutiny. These loans would also begin to impact credit scores more significantly—affecting eligibility for personal loans, mortgages and credit cards. Missed or late repayments would now be flagged as debt.
An Afterpay spokesperson responded to the growing concern, saying that the platform was designed to help users manage their spending responsibly.
‘We believe everyone should have access to a safe, simple and transparent way to manage spending—whether it’s everyday essentials, unexpected expenses, or one-off purchases,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Afterpay is a free service for consumers who pay on time and a much safer and affordable alternative to traditional credit, which can charge interest rates of more than 20 per cent.’
‘Our product has a number of in-built safety features to protect customers from harm. Our current model exposes customers to the lowest possible risk.’
Still, as Shyneka Long and many others have shown, the convenience of spreading out payments can quickly become a slippery slope—one that’s left more than just a few Australians in financial freefall.
Stories like these show just how easily these services can spiral—but behind the scenes, the rules are changing.
If you’re wondering what that means for you or your loved ones, this short video breaks it down.
Source: Youtube/9 News Australia
With the rise of easy credit options and changing financial habits, do you think today's younger generations truly understand the value of money? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at expert warnings about Afterpay Plus—a premium version of the service that’s raising eyebrows among financial advisers.
For those keeping a close eye on their spending, understanding the risks behind these upgraded options is just as important as tracking everyday expenses.
If you’re curious about how Afterpay Plus stacks up, it’s well worth a look.
Read more: Why you should be wary of Afterpay Plus according to financial experts
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