Throughout the great Depression, when cash was scarce and simple credit was a gleam in the banking business's eye, merchants needed to discover a technique to make the unattainable attainable. The solution was good: Want a $30 gas stove but cannot scratch up $30? Give us $10 per week for 3 weeks, 5 Step Formula and then come choose up your new appliance. 70s/early '80s. With the birth of the frequent credit card, shopping for one thing you could not completely (or remotely) afford turned so simple, layaway plans all but vanished. Who needs to attend when you possibly can swipe? The economic downturn that began in earnest in 2008 has had some ugly results on household finances, leaving people paying exorbitant credit score-card curiosity rates that lead, for a lot of, to a lifetime of debt. And as people start to forego, both by selection or necessity, the evil pleasure that's credit, merchants have as soon as again heeded the call for another option.

Layaway is again. And this time, it's on-line. An old program has been revamped for the digital age, and it's popping up at more retail Web pages day-after-day. Pick your merchandise, hand over a down cost and sometimes a small layaway charge, pay in installments over a set time period, and your item is prepared for choose-up or transport when the final installment comes in. The retailers that even have a brick-and-mortar presence supply layaway of their shops, too