Subscribe
Subscribe
How To: Turn Past Spending Into Simple, Staggered Payments
Life throws expenses at us, sometimes all at once. Here’s how to manage them with ease and keep your budget on track.
We’ve partnered with American Express to share how Amex Plan It Instalments can help you manage your purchases with ease and stay in control of your budget.
Life rarely slows down — between birthdays, long lunches with friends, a concert you already bought tickets for, weekly groceries, and those small milestones that deserve a toast, your calendar can fill up fast. And after a busy month, checking your bank balance can feel like a reality check, reminding you that even everyday purchases add up.
That’s where Amex Plan It Instalments can help. It’s a simple way to break down past or larger purchases into equal monthly payments, making your spending feel less overwhelming. From groceries and utility bills to essentials like a new appliance or that long-overdue replacement, Plan It helps spread the cost over time — with a fixed monthly fee¹ applied to each plan. T&Cs apply¹.
It’s not about indulgence or living beyond your means — it’s about making your past spending more manageable, so you can focus on what matters without the stress of one-off lump sums.
What Is Amex Plan It Instalments?
Plan It Instalments is a feature available for American Express Business or Personal Credit Card Members. It lets you divide a purchase, or a portion of your balance, into equal monthly instalments¹. If you already have an American Express Credit Card, you’re set — there’s nothing extra to sign up for.
The standout? There’s no interest. Instead, you’ll pay a fixed monthly fee, clearly disclosed upfront so you know exactly what to expect. That transparency means no surprises, and no hidden catches.
How Does It Work?
To use Plan It Instalments:
- Log in to your Online Account or the Amex® App.
- Select the purchase or a portion of your balance you want to pay off in instalments (minimum amount $100).
- Choose a 3, 6 or 12-month plan.
- Review and confirm your plan, including the monthly fee.
From there, your repayments become automatic and predictable. You could split a single $100 anniversary dinner into equal monthly repayments with no interest, just a fixed monthly fee, or apply it to a portion of your overall balance. For business owners, it’s also an effective way to smooth out cash flow and manage larger invoices.
Everyday Ways to Use Plan It Instalments
Think of Plan It Instalments as a little helper for life’s unexpected moments — a fridge that decides to quit mid-week, a car repair you weren’t budgeting for, or that essential purchase you can’t quite fit into one go. It lets you spread the cost without the stress, so sudden expenses feel a little less… well, sudden. Here’s how it can make those tricky months feel a touch smoother.
Upgrade Your Home
Our homes are where we recharge, entertain and dream. From small touches — like replacing worn-out bedding — to larger projects like renovating the kitchen, costs can climb quickly. Plan It Instalments helps spread those expenses into manageable monthly payments.
Book Your Next Escape
Travel has a way of refreshing the soul, but once you’ve booked your flights, accommodation or experiences, the upfront costs can feel a little heavy. Plan It Instalments can help you manage those existing travel expenses more easily, breaking eligible charges into equal monthly payments¹ so your getaway — whether it’s a coastal weekend you’ve already locked in or an overseas trip on the calendar — fits more comfortably into your budget.
Savvy Gifting This Festive Season
The end-of-year rush doesn’t have to mean frantic spending. With Plan It Instalments, thoughtful gifting stays easy and manageable. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly payments¹, and suddenly that special gift — or even a last-minute dinner reservation with loved ones — feels far lighter on your budget.
It’s generosity with strategy: give, delight, and celebrate while still keeping your finances firmly in check. The season is about sparkling moments — not financial stress — and with Plan It, you can savour every one over time without compromise.
Flexible Options to Suit Your Lifestyle
There are two main ways to use Plan It Instalments:
- Plan Your Purchases: For a purchase of $100 or more, you can choose to convert that single transaction into a Plan It Instalment plan. Ideal when one item — a gift, an appliance, or an unexpected cost — needs a little extra breathing room.
- Plan Your Balance: If you prefer to manage part of your overall Credit Card balance, you can create a plan using a portion of your existing balance (minimum $100). This helps smooth out past spending across predictable monthly payments.
Both options work the same way — fixed monthly payments¹, clear timeframes, and no surprises — giving you flexibility in how you manage your costs, depending on what life throws your way. Either way, it’s about choice, transparency and control.
For Business Owners
If you run a business, cash flow can often feel like a juggling act. From stocking up on supplies to covering travel, conferences or marketing, expenses don’t always line up neatly with income. Plan It Instalments can provide helpful breathing room — a way to spread eligible outgoings over time without disrupting day-to-day operations.
It can be a practical tool for many entrepreneurs, helping ease short-term financial pressure so they can stay focused on what matters most to their business. How it supports each Card Member will vary, but its clarity and predictable monthly payments can offer welcome structure when managing cash flow.
Live Well, Spend Smart
Ultimately, Plan It Instalments is designed to work with your lifestyle. It recognises that life is full of moments worth celebrating — and that budgets don’t always line up with the calendar. By offering flexibility and transparency, it helps you plan for more of the experiences you love, while staying comfortably in control of your finances.
Plan It Terms and Conditions¹: What You Need to Know to Set Up Your First Plan
You can create an Instalment Plan as long as your account is in good standing. We may prevent you from creating any new Instalment Plans or cancel any of your existing Instalment Plan(s) at any time if your Card Account is overdue, or if you do not comply with your Card Conditions.
The minimum Plan amount is AUD$100. We may also limit the amount that can be transferred to an Instalment Plan.
You will be charged a Monthly Plan Fee for each Instalment Plan created. This fee will be charged each month your Instalment Plan is active and will be disclosed to you at the time of creating your Instalment Plan.
Each Instalment Plan will begin from the date it is successfully created, as communicated to you in your Online Account. Payment of your first Monthly Instalment will be due in your next payment cycle.
You may request to cancel your Instalment Plan(s) at any time through your Online Account or the Amex App. Any billed Monthly Plan Fees will remain payable, but no further Monthly Plan Fees will be billed after cancellation is effective. As cancellation can take 24–48 hours to process (“Processing Time”), you may be charged a further monthly plan fee after requesting cancellation if the Processing Time occurs on your payment date.
View the full Plan It® Instalment Terms and Conditions here: Amex T&Cs.
American Express income and credit approval criteria applies. Cards are offered, issued and administered by American Express Australia Limited ABN 92 108 952 085, Australian Credit Licence No. 291313.
Because the best moments are worth planning for. With Amex Plan It Instalments, you can enjoy special experiences while managing your payments over time — keeping your celebrations thoughtful, your budget intact, and your plans effortless.
