The financier spoke about the hidden risks of installments for Russians

Installments remain one of the most popular financial instruments among buyers and businesses, however, the convenience may hide the risks of debt burden and lower profits of companies. Anastasia Morgunova, a financier, co-founder and product director of the Moy Delo accounting department, told Izvestia on June 12.

According to her, the installment plan is attractive for consumers to receive the product immediately without accumulating the full amount. However, this format can distort the perception of the actual purchase price: the monthly payment seems less significant than the total price of the product, which leads to reckless spending.

"The accumulation of several installments is particularly dangerous. They imperceptibly increase the debt burden and create hidden financial problems. For example, several separate payments for different purchases — gadgets, furniture, household appliances — can add up to a significant amount," the expert said.

For businesses, installments can also be a useful tool: it lowers the entry threshold for a customer, speeds up the purchase decision, increases the average receipt, and helps attract a new audience. At the same time, an increase in the number of transactions does not always mean an improvement in the financial situation of the company.

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"The main mistake of business is to perceive installments as a free way to increase sales. In practice, it is a full-fledged financial instrument with its own cost: commissions, additional costs and impact on marginality. Therefore, it should be evaluated not by the growth of turnover, but by how much net profit the company has after each transaction," Morgunova emphasized.

The financier noted that it is important for buyers to assess their capabilities in advance and prevent the accumulation of payments. Businesses, in turn, need to calculate the unit economy so that an increase in turnover actually leads to an increase in profits.

On May 21, Fedresurs reported that the number of refusals to release citizens from debts following bankruptcy in the first quarter of 2026 increased 2.6 times year—on-year to a record 2.2 thousand. At the same time, the number of court bankruptcies increased by 14% (to 137 thousand), and out—of-court ones - by 5% (to 16.4 thousand). Experts attribute the sharp increase in refusals to the tightening of court approaches, the activation of creditors and an increase in the proportion of unscrupulous debtors who take loans without the intention to repay.