Can Layaway Help Your Credit Rating? The Surprising Answer

Two people engaging in a layaway transaction, with one person smoothly handing a receipt to the other across the counter.

Layaway is making a huge comeback this year, as retailers launch their layaway programs earlier than ever and more and more stores offer layaway payment options. For consumers, the primary draw of layaway is the ability to pay for gifts over time. Using layaway is sort of like implementing a forced savings plan for your […]

Layaway: Bad Advice That You Should Ignore

A layaway ticket with red text and details including buyer's information, items, prices, and payment schedule hangs prominently against a solid red background.

File this one under the “bad financial advice” category. An article that recently ran online from WSOCTV.com suggests that using layaway to pay for goods over time can be more expensive than credit cards. According to the story, “consumer experts say buying on a financial plan doesn’t always make sense. Experts say a typical shopper […]

Layaway Shopper Beware

Close-up of a bicycle's handlebars with an attached layaway ticket proudly displaying the ticket number, price, and customer information.

If you’re already thinking about holiday spending and want to be a savvy shopper, you might be considering using layaway in order to stick to a budget or avoid racking up credit card debt. I think using layaway is a great strategy and we’ve had a number of retailers in recent years start to bring […]

Will Layaway Help My Credit Score?

layaway

Q: Can putting something on layaway hurt my credit score? A: I don’t see how a layaway plan can help or hurt a consumer’s credit — mainly because no credit or loans are being provided. With a credit card, you charge what you want, take immediate possession of the merchandise, and then pay the bill […]