Holiday shopping can be expensive. It can easily put pressure on monthly budgets, and while some people save up throughout the year for it, others squeeze their monthly grocery budgets to make room for all the holiday shopping. For many Americans, buy now, pay later services such as Affirm and Klarna offer another way to spread those costs over several payments rather than paying the entire bill upfront. And more shoppers are planning to use these services this holiday season. Nearly 38% of holiday spenders expect to use buy now, pay later financing in 2026, according to NerdWallet’s latest Holiday Spending Report. Meanwhile, Adobe forecasts that Americans will spend a record $21.3 billion online through buy now, pay later services during the holiday shopping season, up 6.6% from last year. Sam’s Club seems to be looking to capitalize on this growing demand, introducing a new payment option just as Americans prepare for the holiday shopping season and the huge discounts that come with it. The Walmart-owned warehouse chain is offering members another way to spread the cost of expensive purchases, with a new financing option from Affirm. Sam’s Club introduces new financing option for shoppers On Oct. 22, Affirm announced an exclusive, multi-year partnership with Sam’s Club, allowing eligible shoppers to split purchases of $500 or more into monthly installments. For now, the service will become available on Sam’s Club website in the coming weeks, with plans to expand to physical Sam’s Club locations in 2027. Customers must complete a real-time eligibility check at checkout. Those approved can select from available monthly payment plans, with the payment amounts and repayment schedule displayed before they commit. According to Affirm, the service offers: Financing for eligible purchases of $500 or more. Fixed monthly payment amounts and repayment schedules. No late fees or compounding interest. Payment terms disclosed before checkout. Possible down payments, depending on eligibility. “Making every dollar count shouldn’t stop at checkout,” Affirm Chief Revenue Officer Wayne Pommen said in the announcement. “When people pay over time with Affirm, they know what they’ll owe and choose a plan that fits their lives.” However, shoppers should understand that the absence of late fees does not necessarily mean interest-free financing. Affirm’s financing terms generally allow annual percentage rates ranging from 0% to 36%, depending on eligibility and the available offer. This means a purchase financed over several months can ultimately cost more than paying upfront. In my experience, longer payoff periods, such as 24 months, usually come with higher interest rates. Sam’s Club makes shopping easier ahead of the holidays with a new financing option. JHVEPhoto / Getty Images Costco already offers a similar payment option Sam’s Club isn’t the first major warehouse retailer to introduce installment financing for larger purchases. In May 2025, Costco partnered with Affirm to allow members to finance eligible online purchases ranging from $500 to $17,500. The partnership gave Costco members a way to finance expensive merchandise, including appliances, electronics and furniture. Sam’s Club’s agreement also extends similar payment flexibility with Affirm as retailers compete for shoppers making big-ticket purchases. Sam’s Club members already have several ways to pay, including major credit and debit cards, Sam’s Club credit cards, gift cards and Sam’s Cash. The new Affirm partnership adds fixed-monthly-installment financing for eligible purchases of at least $500. Parent company Walmart already offers a similar service through OnePay Later, powered by Klarna, for eligible purchases ranging from $25 to $6,000. However, the growing popularity of installment financing also raises concerns about repayment risks. NerdWallet’s 2026 research found that 38% of holiday shoppers planning to use buy now, pay later expect they may be unable to make all payments in full and on time. For Sam’s Club members, the new option could make it easier to spread holiday expenses across several months. But splitting a purchase into smaller payments doesn’t reduce its price. Shoppers should compare the total repayment amount, including interest, before deciding whether installment financing fits their budgets. Latest Retail News Ulta Beauty’s website traffic just surged a whopping 48% Verizon customers face monthly fee for new iPhone feature Pepsi shuts down another U.S. plant as CEO admits soft drink slump Victoria’s Secret pulls its runway hits out of holiday sales
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