What term describes an arrangement that allows consumers to buy goods or services now and pay for them later?

The term that describes an arrangement allowing consumers to purchase goods or services immediately while deferring payment to a later date is "credit." This concept is essential in consumer finance and enables individuals to make purchases without having to pay the full amount upfront. Credit can take various forms, such as credit cards, lines of credit, or loans, but they all share the characteristic of allowing the consumer to access funds or services now while agreeing to pay the lender back over time.

Understanding credit is crucial for managing personal finances effectively, as it involves not only accessing goods and services but also reflects on how consumers manage debt and repayment schedules. The concept is distinct from other forms of financing, such as a loan, which typically involves borrowing an amount of money with a repayment plan but is not always directly associated with immediate purchases of goods. Installment payments and mortgages are specialized terms that can fit into the broader category of credit arrangements but do not broadly encompass all the types of deferred payment arrangements that credit does.