Vet Bills Spark Credit Revolution
July 2022
IDEO

Introduction
Dive into the story of how a whopping $4,000 vet bill and the quest for financial flexibility inspired American Express to innovate with IDEO's help, leading to the creation of "Pay It Plan It." This feature allows users to manage big and small expenses with ease, avoiding the dreaded debt trap while still racking up rewards. It's a tale of empathy, innovation, and the power of understanding customer needs. Discover how this design-led approach is reshaping financial services, one tap at a time.
READ FULL ARTICLEWhy It Matters
Discover how this topic shapes your world and future
Dollars and Sense - Navigating Financial Flexibility
Imagine you're facing a sudden $4,000 expense. Maybe your pet needs emergency surgery, and you're staring down a bill that's more than your savings account can handle. This is where the story of innovation at American Express, sparked by a similar vet bill, becomes not just interesting but vital. It's about more than just a financial product; it's about understanding and addressing the real anxieties and needs of people like you. The development of the Pay It Plan It feature is a testament to how companies can innovate to offer more control, flexibility, and transparency in managing finances. This innovation is significant globally as it addresses universal concerns of financial management, the desire for reward maximization, and the avoidance of debt's pitfalls. For you, understanding this topic could demystify aspects of financial literacy, inspire innovative thinking, and highlight the importance of empathy in creating solutions that meet real human needs.
Speak like a Scholar

Financial Literacy
Understanding how money works, how it's earned, managed, and invested, and how to handle financial resources effectively.

Innovation
The process of creating new methods, ideas, or products to meet unfulfilled needs or solve problems.

Empathy
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another, a crucial skill in designing solutions that truly meet people's needs.

Transparency
Clear, open, and honest communication, particularly about processes that can be complex and confusing, like financial transactions.

Prototyping
Creating a preliminary model of a product to test and refine concepts before final production.

Interdisciplinary
Combining knowledge and methods from different fields to create new insights or solutions.
Independent Research Ideas

The Psychology of Financial Decisions
Explore how emotions and psychological factors influence our financial choices, such as why we might choose debit over credit or how financial stress affects spending habits.

Innovations in Financial Technology for Young Adults
Investigate how technology is being used to tailor financial products to the needs of younger generations, focusing on the balance between flexibility and responsibility.

The Role of Empathy in Product Design
Examine how understanding user emotions and experiences can lead to more effective and appreciated products, using Pay It Plan It as a case study.

The Impact of Financial Literacy Programs on Teen Spending
Research the effectiveness of early financial education in shaping responsible spending and saving habits among teenagers.

Cross-disciplinary Approaches to Solving Financial Insecurity
Study how combining insights from psychology, technology, and finance could create innovative solutions to common financial challenges faced by people globally.
Related Articles

Sunk Costs: Firms' Costly Clinginess
January 2023
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Cracking Bitcoin's Return Code
May 2023
Illinois Institute of Technology

Banks: From Old School to Cool School
April 2023
London School of Economics (LSE)

Data's Hidden Goldmine Unveiled
October 2023
MIT Technology Review

Underdogs in the Fintech Fight
April 2023
London School of Economics (LSE)