Canada, it is available from many businesses including local bike shops, jewellers, and adventure holidays. Variations Online layaway allows consumers to purchase items through scheduled deductions from a checking account. Online layaway simplifies layaway for both merchant and consumer by removing the costly, time-consuming storage and bookkeeping processes. Layaways remain at the distribution center during the layaway period instead of taking up valuable retail warehouse space. Just as consumers used layaway payment plans to purchase products at brick and mortar stores in the past, they can also use layaway to pay for online products and services which serves as an alternative budgeting tool and a means to avoid debt and it can help consumers reserve a product that is hard to get or not always available due its high demand and popularity. Products and services that have layaway offerings online vary from netbooks to home gyms and from concert tickets to layaway vacations. Many stores offer layaway during the Christmas season, and it has been a tradition for some individuals to make holiday layaway donations, thus releasing the purchased items to the layaway participant. Guaranteed consumer funding is a type of credit similar to layaway, which allows consumers to purchase items on a payment plan regardless of their credit history. See also Credit Loan References Weblinks Delayed Gratification (2008) in The New York Times Magazine Retail financial services Great Depression in the United States Payment methods in retailing