When Should You Pay Cash vs. Finance a Purchase?

You’ve got your heart set on purchasing your dreams: a nicer couch, a new car, or even something as simple as an upgraded phone. Once all of the finer details are out of the way, however, you find yourself given the choice to either pay the total cost immediately or finance your purchase. What do you do? If you have the money to pay for it outright, you might be tempted to buy it right away — but paying for your purchase in installments also sounds like a great way of avoiding the shock of a large buy. So, what is the best way to pay for your purchase? The answer is dependent on who you are as a consumer and spender.

What is Financing?

Consumers are often offered two choices when making a large purchase: paying upfront or financing. Paying upfront means you own your purchase entirely and will not have to make further payments. 

Financing means that you rely on a lender, such as a bank or credit union, to loan you money to make a purchase. Once you have your item, you pay back the loan — with interest — in installments, usually every month. Many stores offer 0% interest for a defined amount of time, meaning you can have smaller monthly installments instead of one big payment while still paying the same amount. This option is often available for large, expensive purchases, such as cars, furniture, or technology. 

Before you commit to financing or purchasing, it's important to be clear about your financial goals and cash flow. For larger purchases especially, having a solid and open understanding of things like income, savings, and spending habits can help you be better informed to make the right choice for you.

When You Should Pay Upfront

Paying for purchases upfront removes a future recurring bill from your roster and assures you that you will always own that product completely — if you miss a payment while financing, you may lose ownership of your purchase. 

You have various options for paying upfront, including cash, credit, and debit. You can charge your purchase and pay off your credit card immediately to earn points and other rewards. While store lending programs have lower interest rates than using a credit card, remember that they must be paid back in a set amount of time. Credit cards give you options for flexibility in how long you take to pay it back, but will incur more interest the longer you take to pay off your bill in full.

Paying up-front can also save you money in the long run. Paying in cash can help you avoid interest charges, which often add up the longer it takes to pay off a loan. It also means that you only pay the price of the item you are purchasing, allowing you to avoid incurring debt. When you pay upfront, there's no risk of going over your budget, as you are limited to spending only what you have, keeping you financially stable.

Paying upfront is generally recommended for nonessential purchases or luxuries. When you finance nonessentials,  you run a greater risk of debt piling up. If you have the funds to cover your purchase, with plenty left over for your other bills and necessities, consider paying in cash. However, if the purchase would deplete your savings, you might consider financing or waiting a bit longer until you can save up more. 

When You Should Finance

Understanding how financing choices influence credit scores is important in deciding whether to pay upfront or finance a purchase. For example, an individual may choose to finance a car purchase through an auto loan. By making timely and consistent payments over the life of the loan, they demonstrate responsible financial behavior to credit bureaus. This punctual payment history contributes positively to their credit score over simply paying for the purchase upfront.

A mix of credit types also influences credit scores. A diverse credit portfolio that includes installment loans (like auto loans) and revolving credit (like credit cards) can be advantageous. If you are always paying in cash, you should take advantage of the opportunity to boost your credit score and show credit bureaus your capability to make timely payments.

Financing may give you a little bit more leeway with juggling larger purchases. The average consumer might be able to save more every month when financing a purchase since payments are made in smaller installments rather than one large purchase. The money you have left over each month can be invested elsewhere or added to your savings.

So, Which is Right for You?

Ultimately, deciding to finance or pay upfront depends on your financial situation and goals. So, when evaluating a purchase, keep a few things in mind. 

Pay cash when: 

• You have sufficient funds for a purchase, with enough buffer in your savings.

• You are making a nonessential purchase. 

• You want to own your purchase outright without losing it down the line.

• You are concerned about existing or future debt.  

Finance when: 

• You need more funds to cover the entire cost of the purchase. 

• You want to boost your credit score. 

• The smaller monthly payments allow you to put more in your monthly savings. 

• You can secure a low or a 0% interest rate for a set time. 

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