Tag Archives: layaway

3 Reasons To Use Layaway And When To Start

Kmart holiday layaway

 

It’s hard to believe but the countdown is on to the holiday season!   Although many of us don’t start shopping, decorating and celebrating until after Thanksgiving, there are a few holiday ‘must-do’s’ that you need to start sooner rather than later.   Planning your holiday menu ahead of time is a must.   Also, why not get a head start on your holiday shopping by starting before the busy Thanksgiving holiday?

First, put the big (or small) items on your kid’s wish lists on Layaway.   Most Layaway contracts are eight weeks long, so this is the ideal time to shop and pay over time.   You don’t want your wallet to go into shock on November 29th, do you? Didn’t think so.

Still need convincing? Here are a few ‘Layaway Lessons’ to keep in mind:

1.) Last year’s Christmas tree was on its last limb and this year you could probably use a new one  
Pick up a pre-lit tree (because that’s the way to go), LED lights, wreaths and village houses now and pay them off in time for decking those halls!

2.) Your gift list has grown
Your kids are getting older and want more gifts or maybe what they just want one or two expensive gifts like a new laptop or game console.  Long gift lists or those including expensive items call for Layaway. Fill your cart to the brim and roll it over to the Layaway counter. Your kids don’t need to know you paid their gifts off over time.

3.) Money is tight this year
It’s not just you; many of us are watching our spending. If you’re having trouble staying afloat while keeping your bills paid, Layaway is a must. Not only will you avoid ‘wallet shock,’ you’ll keep your pre-holiday peace of mind.

Kmart Layaway LogoWhether you have one or 100 items, you can Layaway almost everything on your list without paying a service fee through 11/23. Plus, you can pay in store, online or using a mobile phone. Eight or 12 weeks later (depending on your contract) pick up your items and you’re good to go!

 

Bonus: After you figure out how easy it is, you can Layaway all year round at Kmart.

 

Join me at the #BlackFriday #Layaway #KmartChat this Tuesday, 11/22 from 8-9:30pm ET!

Are you shopping on Black Friday this year? If so, you’ll want to go to Kmart and take advantage of the amazing Black Friday deals, Layaway plans, and Doorbusters.

Join @StacieInAtlanta@Crissy@JollyMom, and @mommyinsider (that’s me) on Twitter this Tuesday, November 22nd from 7pm- 8:30pm CT for our final #Layaway #KmartChat and enter to win a $125 or one of three $25 Kmart gift cards!  We’ll be talking about layaway and how you can use it to do your holiday shopping ahead of time!

We’ll be giving away a $125 and three $25 Kmart gift cards!

Follow @Kmart and @KmartDeals and use the hashtags #KmartChat to join the party.

Topics will include layaway and how you can use it to buy your holiday gifts ahead of time – including putting Black Friday deals on layaway at Kmart!

Kmart Layaway Twitter Party

 

To enter the sweepstakes you must:

  • Have an active Twitter account
  • Follow the official @Kmart and @KmartDeals Twitter accounts
  • Send the following Tweet: “Join me and @Kmart for #KmartChat #BlackFriday #Layaway – Tues 11/22 from 7-8:30 pm CT talking about layaway. Details: http://bit.ly/tavTA5”
  • Post an appropriate, non-duplicative, family-friendly comment on this blog post (not this one) that also includes a link to your Tweet above.

Kmart layaway is a convenient, easy way to pay for products over time. Shop for virtually anything and bring your items to the Kmart layaway counter in the store or add them to your shopping cart online.Your down payment includes the Service Fee and is due when you initiate your contract.Make payments every two weeks online or at any Kmart register with cash, check or debit/credit card. Simply pick up your items after you make your last payment or schedule your pick-up after making your final payment online. Try it today here!

 RSVP and read the official rules here.

Disclosure: I am being compensated to help promote and host this party.

Alicia Hagan, Editor

Join me at the Kmart Layaway Twitter Party Wednesday 11/9 from 8-9:30 EST – #KmartChat

I love the idea of layaway.  People use layaway to buy things they might not otherwise be able to buy for themselves, their kids, their parents, or friends.

Here are a few things you might now have known about Kmart Layaway:

  1. You can put items on layaway year-round at Kmart
  2.  You can layaway items online at Kmart.com
  3. You can calculate your layaway payments on Kmart.com here

Kmart layaway is a convinent, easy way to pay for products over time. Shop for virtually anything and bring your items to the Kmart layaway counter in the store or add them to your shopping cart online.Your down payment includes the Service Fee and is due when you initiate your contract.Make payments every two weeks online or at any Kmart register with cash, check or debit/credit card. Simply pick up your items after you make your last payment or schedule your pick-up after making your final payment online. Try it today here!

 

Kmart Layaway Twitter Party Wednesday 11/9 from 8-9:30 EST

My Top 5 Ultimate #Layaway Wish List Items

RCA 42″ 1080p FULL HD LCD TV

This one would be for my husband, not me.  I’m not a huge fan of television but my husband is and really wants a new TV.

Gardman USA Inc. EasyStart 6 x 6 Greenhouse

This would be for my mom.  She loves gardening and has wanted a Greenhouse forever!

Garden Oasis Chesterfield 3-piece Patio Bistro Set

This would be for ME!  I am pretty happy with our back patio furniture set but we don’t have an ‘official’ set on our front patio which is where I sit 80% of the time I’m outside.

Craftsman 21 HP* Automatic 46″ Lawn Tractor (Available in 49 States)

This would be for my husband but for me, indirectly.  I appreciate that my husband enjoys mowing the yard but the entire process of mowing, blowing, and cleaning takes hours.  This handy riding mower would help save time and make the process more efficient, I’m sure!

Smooth Fitness CE 3.6 Elliptical

This would be for my husband and I. Our treadmill is pretty old and we are ready for a change of equipment.. how cool would this be?


WHO

@Kmart AND @KmartDeals and co-hosts @StacieinAtlanta, @crissy, @jollymom, and @mommyinsider

WHERE

Twitter with the hashtag #KmartChat & #Layaway

WHEN

Wednesday, November 9th from 7-8:30 CT  /  8-9:30 EST

WIN

  • One $125 Kmart Gift Card
  • Three $25 Kmart Gift Cards

JOIN THE FUN

To enter the sweepstakes you must:

  • Have an active Twitter account
  • Follow the official @Kmart and @KmartDeals Twitter accounts
  • Send the following Tweet: “Join me and @Kmart for #KmartChat #Layaway – Wed 11/9 from 7-8:30 pm CT talking about layaway- Details: http://bit.ly/sWJs5G
  • Post an appropriate, non-duplicative, family-friendly comment on this blog post (<< click that  link, not the post you are reading now!) that also includes a link to your Tweet above.

Leave a comment on the Official Party post on the Kmart website with a link to your blog post or Tweet and let us know you are coming.

Official Rules

Join me at the Kmart Layaway Twitter Party Thursday 8-9:30pm EST at #KMartChat

KMart Layaway Twitter Party - November 3rd

Come join @StacieinAtlanta, @crissy, @jollymom and @mommyinsider (that’s me) at the Kmart Layaway Twitter Party this Thursday, November 3rd from 8-9:30 pm EST.

During the twitter party we will discuss how Kmart can us plan ahead for our holiday shopping and all things holiday related, and make the holidays a little less stressful.  Imagine that!  We will be giving away prizes (see below).

Kmart makes the layaway process simple.  And goodness knows, consumers are in need of layaway now more than almost ever.. so take advantage of layaway services and learn more about them at our Twitter party tonight!
How to layaway at Kmart: Shop, take your items to the layaway counter, or add them to your shopping cart online.  You then pay a down payment which includes a service fee, and after that you make payments on the items you put on layaway, every two weeks until the last scheduled payment is made after which you can pick up for items!


WHO:
Brand: @Kmart@KmartDeals
Hosts:@StacieInAtlanta@DearCrissy@JollyMom@MommyInsider (that’s me).

WHEN:
Thursday, November 3rd 8pm-9:30pm EST

WHERE:
On Twitter – Tweet with the hashtags #kmartchat and #layaway

WIN:
$125 Kmart gift card or one of three $25 Kmart gift cards

To enter the sweepstakes you must:

  • Have an active Twitter account.
  • Follow the official @Kmart and @KmartDeals Twitter accounts.
  • Post an appropriate, non-duplicative, family-friendly comment on this MyKmart blog post with a link to your tweet or blog post promoting the Kmart LayawayTwitter Party (Include your Twitter handle).
  • During the Kmart Layaway Twitter Party, send a Tweet (containing only appropriate, family-friendly content as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion) that includes the #kmartchat and #layaway hashtags.

RSVP: Leave a comment on the Official Party post on the Kmart wesite with a link to your blog post or Tweet to let us know you are coming. Make sure to read the Official Rules and entry requirements to be eligible to win prizes.

Deal Alert!
It is Friends and Family at Kmart this weekend 10% off additional off which can really help you maximize your layaway dollars! Details are here.

Kmart layaway is a convinent, easy way to pay for products over time. Shop for virtually anything and bring your items to the Kmart layaway counter in the store or add them to your shopping cart online.Your down payment includes the Service Fee and is due when you initiate your contract.Make payments every two weeks online or at any Kmart register with cash, check or debit/credit card. Simply pick up your items after you make your last payment or schedule your pick-up after making your final payment online. Try it today here!

See you there!

Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with Sears and Kmart.

Alicia Hagan, Editor

The Do’s and Don’ts of Layaway Plans

This a guest post by Andrea Woroch, a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc.

Layaway PlansWould you rather put holiday spending on your credit card or pay for it through a layaway program? Many Americans are opting for the latter, helping retrench these time-honored payment plans.

Walmart, Sears, Best Buy and TJ Maxx are just a few of the major merchants now offering layaway. In fact, Toys ‘R Us has expanded its layaway program to include most toys, rather than just the big-ticket items.

Layaway nearly vanished before the recession, as credit card use grew in prominence. Stores preferred we swipe away because it was easier than handling all that paperwork. But with consumers leery of facing too much holiday debt — and threatening to spend less this year in stores — retailers began using layaway as a means of luring us back.

While this all sounds well and good, there are problems related to such programs. Here are a few “Do’s” and “Don’ts” you should consider before making the leap.

DO

Do Dissect the Fine Print
You’ll have to sign a contract or layaway initiation form, which naturally contains a lot of vital information you could easily overlook. Don’t let a long line or impatient clerk rush you through checking each detail so you know what to expect.

Do Consider Whether it’s Worth the Origination Fee
There’s a fair amount of paperwork, processing and labor involved in layaway plans, so stores charge a start-up fee for each order. Consider the amount of that charge is worthwhile compared to the overall total of your purchase.

Do Decide if You Really Need This Item
Should something happen and you decide not to go through with all payments, you’ll likely have to pay a fee of roughly 25 to 30 percent of the total price of the layaway plan. That’s a hefty fine for changing your mind, so make sure you really want the item before placing it on layaway.

Do Compare all Fees vs. Credit Card Charges
Add up the potential costs and consider whether you’d be better off placing a purchase on a credit card. According to a New York Times op-ed by Cornell professor Louis Hyman, a typical shopper could wind up paying far less interest by using a credit card, even if it has a fairly high APR. Plus, a credit card gives you purchase protection and, with some companies, price protection.

DON’T

Don’t Ignore the Internet
Don’t let a sale combined with a layaway plan talk you into buying before researching your options. You’ll often find better deals online and it’s a lot easier to comparison shop with your mouse. Search for promo codes to use toward your coveted item, and then compare the total cost of the online purchase to what you’d ultimately pay by putting it on layaway.

Don’t Neglect Your Expiration Date
There’s a limit to how long Walmart will store your stuff. As with other stores, they want to move it before Christmas, so check to ensure you have enough time and cash to pay the entire debt off on time or you’ll forfeit everything you’ve already paid. Mark that date on your calendar and make sure you make all payments before it hits.

Don’t Forget About Automatic Withdrawals
Some merchants prefer to set-up automatic checking-account deductions, ostensibly to save you the hassle of coming in to make each payment. In actuality, it’s just another way to make sure they get their money. Should one of those payments bounce, however, you’ll be socked with a healthy overdraft fee from both the merchant and your bank. Once again, mark on your calendar the date each deduction will be made, so you can double check the balance in your account.

Don’t Layaway When You Can Pay
It’s hard to part with cash during the holidays, when other expenses build up, but the fees you incur with a layaway plan aren’t always worth it if you can pay cash now and avoid the hassle.

This a guest post by Andrea Woroch, a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc.