Making purchases on "Layaway"?

I read a report in USA Today recently that "Layaway" purchases are on the increase. Layaway refers to a practice of putting an item- anything from clothing to appliances- on hold at a department store. You pay a small fee and put some money down (usually 10%) and pay for the items week by week until you pay for it- then you take it home all paid for. No credit card bill coming next month. When I was a kid this was the only way we made purchases. Usually at K-Mart or another discount store. Every fall- new school clothes were picked out on August an put on layaway for a few weeks. Every November same thing with toys for Christmas. I know I didn't have any credit cards until I graduated from college and I got a Macy's-type store card with a $250 limit- that was it! I'm not sure if I would use layaway today because I really wouldn't want to pay the fee- anywhere from $1 to $5. But it's a good alternative to buying things on credit or over-spending. Mostly these days I have to stop and think- do we really need this item? will it make my life better? is there something else I already have that I can use instead?

At the end of the article there is a really troubling statement about today's consumers:

Edgar Dworsky, editor of the Internet consumer resource guide Consumerworld.org, said layaway teaches good lessons about patience and caution to shoppers. But he doesn't expect it to gain much traction with today's consumer. "Layaway really was a great deal and kind of a way to force people to budget their money," he said. "People don't have the discipline to do that today."

CVS shopping today

Here's what I got today for $0.07- yes that's 7 cents!

1 Powerade 32oz. $1.69 (get $1.69 ECB back)- use $1 off coupon from paper
1 Colgate toothbrush $2.99 (get $2 ECB back)- use $2 off CVS coupon
1 Kleenex tissue with lotion $0.88
use $2.98 ECB spent $0.07 out of pocket after sales tax

Where to get online coupons

Here's some sights where you can print online coupons. Check with your local store about their policy for internet coupons. Some of these you have to sign up for:

Betty Crocker

Boodle

Coupons.com

Eat Better America

Home Solutions News

P&G Everyday Solutions

Smart Source

Very Best Kids (Nestle)

Freebies at CVS ths week

Free stuff Sunday & Monday only!

Pumpkin pail $0.99 get $0.99 ECB (limit 2)- free
Brachs candy $1.29 get $1.29 ECB (limit 2)- free
Funlight glowstick $0.99 get $0.99 ECB (limit 2)- free

Other stuff:

Butler GUM toothbrush 2pk $3.99 get $3.99 ECB (limit 5)- free
Listerine Agent Cool Blue $4.49 get $3 ECB (limit 5)
Oral B floss picks 90ct $3.99 get $2 ECB (limit 2)
Excedrin 20-24ct $1.99 (no ECB) I had a $3 CVS coupon
Powerade 32oz $1.69 get $1.69 ECB (limit 1)- free

Bagel Bites at Giant Eagle

Bagel Bites are 5/$10 this week at Giant Eagle ($2 each).
Get $1 off 2 with this coupon.

CVS week 10/12-10/18

Deals for CVS week of 10/12-10/18:

Buy 1 Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste at $3.49, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 1)

Buy 5 Sobe, Propel or Gatorade at $5, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 1)

Spend $10 on Swiffer Products, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 1)

Nature's Bounty vitamins are on sale B1G1 this week and you get $2 ECBs back when you buy 2. ($1 coupons in the newspaper)

Giant Eagle deals

This week at Giant Eagle 10/9-10/15 (NE Ohio):

Go here and here first and you can print coupons for most of these items.

Quilted Northern toilet paper 9 pk mega rolls 2/$6-
plus they are handing out $2 coupons making them $4 ea
Halloween candy $1.88
Yo-plus yogurt 4 pks 4/$9
Kool-aid bursts 10/$10
Fritos or Cheetos 2/$4
Quaker Life cereal 5/$10
GE pasta 8/$8
GE butter 5/$10
GE gravy 10/$10
GE canned veggies 4/$3
GE canned fruit 10/$10
GE evaporated milk 10/$10
Campbell's cream soups 4/$3
Oscar Mayer variety pack 2/$5
Lean Cuisine 5/$10
Dole Fruit bowls 5/$10
Pilsbury pie crusts 4/$10
some apples on sale $1.19/lb

$3 oyno wyb $10 of these products:
Cascadian farm cereal 3/$9.99
Cascadian farm granola bars 3/$9.99
Cascadian farm vegetables 4/$9
Muir glen soup 2/$4.98
(there are tons of coupons out there for these)

In addition to the $3 catalina for the Cascadian deal, I got a $2 coupon for Lean Cuisine on this trip- so I can get more Lean Cuisine. The Quilted Northern deal I stumbled upon at the store- the lady said 9 mega rolls for $4 equals 24 regular rolls (maybe?) anyway 24 regular rolls for $4 would be $0.17 a piece!