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A friend has sent you a link to an article found on FlatheadBeacon.com. To read the full text of this article online, click here: /articles/article/with_less_credit_layaway_makes_a_comeback14227/ ARTICLE EXCERPT: Heading into the frantic Christmas shopping season, national headlines are proclaiming a resurgence of layaway payment programs as businesses respond to cash-strapped customers who have grown weary of credit cards. Large chains that previously regarded layaway as archaic are now viewing it as a viable alternative. For customers, wobbly from the recession, it’s a safer way to budget and avoid rising credit card interest rates. Layaway’s return to prominence is significant, as it represents a shift away from the credit-driven consumer philosophy that has taken part of the blame for the nation’s economic woes. Instead of shoppers getting what they want now and dealing with payments later, more are buying what their current budget allows and exhibiting patience. Credit cards, of course, will still be popular during the holiday season.