A lot of it, I think, is desperation. When you get to the point where you don't have money and the bills need to get paid, you're going to take whatever measures necessary. A lot of this whole thing with layaway, credit, whatever is that we've forgotten to live within our means. That's what happened to me. I got my Discover Card in college, and I regret that to this day. Why not get it now and not have to worry about paying for it....until you realize that at age 31 and you want to buy a house and have no money saved up for a down payment or not the greatest credit in the world, and what do you have to show for it? Not a whole lot. That's one of the things I am going to make sure my kids learn at a young age. Save, save, save! If you don't have they money, you can't buy it. Plain and simple.