A questioner asks about the rise of 'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL) schemes, which, like credit cards, encourage spending and are leading to debt traps, a phenomenon previously seen in America. He asks Acharya Prashant how to control the urge to spend when companies and even the government encourage it. Acharya Prashant responds that one must first understand what is happening. He explains that this is not a new phenomenon and it does not last long, referencing the 2008 credit bubble in America where loans were given to people who could never repay them. He calls this a very old illusion (maya). We tend to prioritize immediate pleasure over our long-term well-being. Even if we know something will bring pleasure now and pain later, we are still likely to accept it. This, he states, is a sign of an animalistic nature. This trait is commonly found in nature; animals do not think about the future. The phrase 'living in the moment' has been twisted to justify this behavior. When you swipe a credit card, you are essentially 'living in the moment'—enjoying now and dealing with the consequences later, which is what animals do. The popular interpretation of 'living in the moment' is instant gratification, which is the mindset of a lustful, greedy, and stimulated person. He contrasts this with the spiritual meaning of 'living in the moment,' which is selfless action (nishkam karma)—doing the right thing without being attached to the results. When a lustful or greedy person says, 'we'll see what happens,' it means they are under the spell of desire and do not care about the consequences, wanting only to indulge in that moment. He advises against buying things on credit. If a loan is necessary, one should question the reason a hundred times. The major negative consequence of spending money in the wrong places is that you will not have it for things that are truly important. One should not become a victim of the market. The impulse of greed is temporary, but its consequences are long-lasting. Learning to postpone the moment of temptation is a spiritual practice (sadhana).