PayLater as Financial Flexibility or Consumptive Risk? An NVivo-Assisted Qualitative Study of Convenience, Debt Awareness, and Self-Control Among Generation Z

Purpose – This study aims to explore the qualitative experiences of Generation Z PayLater users in Indonesia, focusing on three dimensions: convenience, debt awareness, and self-control. Design/Methodology/Approach – The study employed a qualitative research approach. Data were obtained from 20 anonymized consumer interview reports and analyzed using an NVivo-assisted qualitative workflow involving source preparation, case organization, thematic coding, node grouping, selected quotation matrices, and thematic visualization. Findings – The findings show that Generation Z perceives PayLater as providing payment flexibility when funds are unavailable or urgent needs arise, while debt awareness is reflected in the recognition that PayLater constitutes a financial obligation that may generate bill-related anxiety. Self-control is demonstrated through spending limits, need prioritization, early repayment, and cautious use. Overall, PayLater is not perceived merely as a shopping solution or consumption trigger, but as an ambivalent digital credit technology whose meaning depends on the interaction between platform convenience, financial risk awareness, and consumers’ ability to regulate their spending decisions. Originality/Value – The study provides a qualitative perspective on Generation Z’s lived experiences with PayLater by integrating convenience, debt awareness, and self-control into a single analytical framework. Its value lies in showing that the impact of BNPL is not inherently positive or negative but depends on how users balance technological convenience, awareness of financial obligations, and spending self-regulation.