Hey there! Welcome to my first post on my personal website. If you’re in a hurry I have the entire article summed up in the next sentence.
TL;DR - Use Tabby and Tamara (or any other BNPL app) responsibly, make use of all deals & discounts in the app, only buy what you can afford to pay off with your income, don't go on a shopping spree because paying it off the next 3 months is pain. Don't miss your payment due date and pay using credit or debit card that gives cashback to maximize your efficiency.
Platforms like Tabby and Tamara have made shopping more interesting & accessible, allowing you to split your larger purchases into manageable chunks without worrying about interest fees. If you’re looking to make the most out of these services while earning some rewards along the way, here’s how you can use them efficiently.
What Are Tabby and Tamara?
Tabby: A buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) service popular in the UAE and other parts of the Middle East, offering flexible payments. You can split your purchases into four equal installments at no extra cost. It also offers a Tabby Card, a virtual Visa card that can be used at participating stores or anywhere Visa is accepted (with Tabby+ a premium service). Tabby is headquartered in Dubai, UAE.
Tamara: A similar service that also allows customers to split their payments into four installments. Tamara offers a Pay in Full cashback option for those who prefer paying up front but still want to earn rewards. Tamara is headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia but has offices here in Dubai and offers their services here as well.
How to use Tabby and Tamara more efficiently
- Take Advantage of Cashback Offers: Both Tabby and Tamara offer cashback incentives.
- Tabby gives up to 5% cashback on purchases made with their Tabby Card through the Tabby+ subscription. Keep in mind that Tabby+ is a premium service that costs you AED 49 per month as of now. You can choose three favorite spending categories every month, and the cashback will be credited to your balance after you settle your statement. This balance can be used for future purchases, Given the monthly fees, if this is worth it for you or not is completely dependent on how much your spending is per month (that is also eligible for cashback).
- Tamara also offers cashback, unlike Tabby they do not have ‘card’ or pay anywhere feature as of yet, which means your more limited to their selection of stores (which is still plenty) They have promo codes for you to use as well as discounts and the best part is they have no late fees/interest, I have personally confirmed this with their customer support executive, any orders after 16th December 2023 are exempt from late fees.
2. Repay with Credit Cards for Extra Rewards: Both platforms allow linking your credit card for repayments, meaning you can stack the cashback from Tabby or Tamara with your credit card rewards (if eligible), I do not have an arsenal of credit cards, but I’ve tried repaying a small tamara payment with my WIO Bank debit card and it was eligible for 1% cashback (See screenshot below)
3. Stay Within Limits: Both platforms review your spending and repayment history to set spending limits. Keep your spending within reasonable amounts that you can afford to repay to avoid lowering your future spending limits. Over time, responsible usage can also lead to increased limits. it goes without saying, use BNPL apps responsibly, if any financial emergency shows up and your unable to repay Tabby/Tamara then it might result in being reported to credit bureau which might result in difficulties procuring loans in the future. Imagine potentially getting denied for a loan because you missed AED 120 payment. See unedited terms and conditions below:
Tabby Terms and Conditions – 3.6 We may also disclose any information aggregated by us or report your repayment history and credit behavior to any credit bureaus (including Al Etihad Credit Bureau) or any other agency authorized and approved by the UAE Central Bank (“CBUAE”), in accordance with our obligations under applicable law or as mandated by the CBUAE.
Tamara User Terms and Conditions – 11.14. You hereby agree that you understand and bear the potential consequences when you use the Finance Service in violation of the agreed terms. You agree that Tamara has the right (at her absolute discretion) to notify Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB ) in the event of your delay or inability to pay
Final Thoughts
Tabby and Tamara offer convenient ways to manage spending, especially for larger purchases. To maximize the benefits:
- Combine their cashback rewards with your credit card perks.
- Stay organized by keeping track of your installment payments.
- Use their flexible payment options to maintain financial control without incurring debt.
- Always and Always ensure you have enough to payback on time.
- If your smart about your purchases, only buying (splitting into installments) what you can afford to, you can earn Interest in the bank on the balance amount, just withdraw what you need for the payment and pay it off every month.
By using them efficiently, you can enjoy flexible payment plans while racking up credit card rewards. Hope this article was useful to you. I’m just starting out my blog and will appreciate if you can share with your friends 🙂 feel free to comment below.
