Paying off a Stranger's Layaway Bill

I love the idea. So what if the person doesn't "need" the help. If they don't need the help, they can then pay it forward. If they don't, then who cares? It's the thought that counts. There's nothing wrong with putting some good vibes out there for no particular reason other than just being a nice person.

Live Bold - how would the items go to the wrong person in a layaway situation? The store doesn't care who pays, as long as it's paid. Layaway rules regarding pickup identification still have to be followed. Why would someone pay someone else's layaway out of the goodness of their heart & then try to somehow take the items home? I am glad I am not so jaded.

If I was in the position to do it I would, giving without receiving is a attribute to be respected, it speaks of the true meaning of Christmas.

I absolutely love it, what a wonderful thing to help out a family dierctly. Will the store call the customer and tell them their item is paid off and can be picked up?

I used to pay family dinner bills at restaurants around Christmas. I would check out who was eating there that night and randomly select a family. Now I have too big of a family to foot the bill for others, but it gave me great joy to see their happy faces, searching for the anonymous donor. I never let on who it was that did it. I didnt care if they needed it or not, it was a gift. I like giving.

My sister just did this tonight. We went to Kmart and asked to do this. The manager said that 14 other people had done this today alone! You pay down all but a few cents so that the ticket stays in the system. One lady came and paid $500 for a family that she knows with a lot of kids.

While we were there waiting to start, a lady showed up to pick up a layaway. She was talking to the worker and said I only owed $28, but they called and said that someone had paid it. I just can't believe it! All she still owed was one penny. She handed over the penny they handed her two bags of stuff.

My sis had a set amount of cash that she had walked in with. It was a bit of a hassle because the worker had to go upstairs, get acct. #s off the cards and then come back down to bring them up. There were many that when she pulled them up were already paid off or were really high. We were finally able to find some that weren't small amounts but weren't outrageous either. She paid all but a few cents. So if the total was $25.02. She paid $25 and the person just needs to pay .02 to pick it up. As my sis was paying for them, the ticket is marked as 'Paid by Santa!', the manager would call the people up to tell them their stuff was paid and to come pick it up. As we were checking out, two calls for Layaway came over the loud speaker. We just laughed. Imagining that it was the people calling back to say there must be some mistake ... it was a really fun moment...

Suzie Q. - for us, it isn't about helping someone that needs it vs helping someone that is on a budget. For us its just about helping. Its about giving the Ultimate discount at Christmas time. We also donate toys to Toys For Tots, Samaratian's Purse, and support and Angel on the Salvation Army Tree... The mom that we met tonight had budgeted also. She was down to $28 left on the acct. To see her appreciation that she was able to pick up the items 3 days early, instead of having to wait for payday, and the fact that a stranger would do that for her had her near tears. Esp. when she found out we were getting ready to do that for someone else. We weren't going to tell her, but we let her cut in line and she kept asking why we were waiting.... anyway, we later saw her buying a cute little Christmas dress. She now had and extra $28 for Christmas stuff....

What?! NO!!!! I put things on layaway, and I really don't need people paying for my children's presents!!! I'm just working within my budget.

If someone paid off my layaway they would be doing themselves and a really poorly off family a disservice!!

Beware! You may be paying off stuff for people who don't even need the help, like me!

But I like where you're coming from :-)

EDITED TO ADD: I understand and appreciate that giving in itself is a wonderful thing to do. But, my point is that if you give your hard earned money to someone like me - who can give her children a nice Christmas with some presents and treats - in the spirit of Christmas charity, you may deprive a truly needy family of having a Christmas at all. Please don't upsize my already large turkey. I would prefer it if you gave a turkey to someone who has no Christmas dinner at all. While I might be a person who 'pays it forward', not everyone would.

Never thought of layaway (didn't know they still did that anymore...did it go away for a few years and then come back?).....I think if you're able to help, it's a great thing to do. Suzie Q does have a good point, but on the other hand, if I had $100 paid off for my account and really didn't need the help, I would be very happy/touched that some well meaning soul did that, and would just pay that same $100 to someone else's account----just pay it forward.
I've done that at restaurants before as I was walking out, but never thought about layaway.

I read an article about this and I think it is touching and such a wonderful way to help! If my husband and I were in a better financial position this year, I would love to do something like that! Maybe next year!

I think it's a very sweet idea, a nice Christmas gesture. I understand how some people could think it helps people who don't really need it, and it's probably true, but it's still a really nice thing to do for a stranger. It's kind of like the idea of paying for the person's drink behind you at Starbucks..no one really NEEDS to go to Starbucks, but it's a nice gesture nonetheless. In either situation, I don't think anyone would really be too upset that a stranger helped them out monetarily. And at places like Walmart and Target, during this economy, you're likely to find more people who DO need help than those who put things on layaway on a regular basis.

You're very generous to think of doing this. Great post!

I don't know about a "movement"...someone gave a Walmart $10,000 to pay of overdue lay aways...good for them!! But...as I said on a previous post about giving to strangers at Christmas...I do my giving through recognized institutions that stand for something I believe in. Our church is very active in Operation Christmas Child and I also purchase things through Samaritans' Purse Organization in honor of people that I want to bless in that way.

I like the idea of paying the ones that are in danger of return. When my mom had to cancel layaways when I was a kid, she got her money back. I guess not so anymore? At any rate, this is the best kind of viral, IMO. People doing good for people, just because. The story of the woman stepping up to pay for the guy with the 3 young kids really touched my heart. Or the mom whose layaway was not being paid because her kid was in the hospital. Maybe you guess wrong and someone could have paid it down in time, but maybe you really touch someone's life. I like the pay it forward concept, be it big or little. If I had more money, I'd go to KMart tomorrow and pay someone's bill.

The story of the woman who did it in honor of her husband was also very touching. We lost a dear friend this year who LOVED Christmas. He was worse than a kid - but he loved the GIVING spirit part of Christmas. He even chose a Christmas song for his funeral. I could very much see his wife doing that for his memory, and it would be a fitting memorial.

Many stores have notified the recipients, and the giftees pay all but a tiny amount so that the items stay in the lockup, but they can hopefully be picked up by the recipients for just a few bucks.

Yay!!! What an awesome idea! Merry Christmas!

***** they said you need to keep like 50 cents on the accoutn so that it stays in the system **** Just an FYI

ONEANDDONE - You should google the article about this - trust me , these aren't people just using layaway as a storage center!! These are people really in need and BEYOND grateful when they get the call re: their balance being paid. Just one example was the mother who was called to be told that her balance was paid off was reached at the hospital w/her sick child.

If you can do it, it is a worth cause. There is a trailer park a few towns over and I go to town hall and pick a few families to pay their taxes for the year. It's not expensive .... but I'm sure it means the world to them.

If i had the extra money i would. Merry Christmas!

heard about this a couple of weeks ago on the radio station. like the previous comment, wish i could financially afford to do this.

I don't have the money to pay off someones layaway entirely,but I could definetly put in 10 or 20 dollars for them. That's a thought!

Honestly, I think it could backfire greatly for those who don't want/need the help. Its like taking the dignity away from paying for your own things. But for those who really need it, it would help them out greatly. If there was a way to know the difference, it might be positive then. But personally, I would rather buy a gift for an angel for the salvation army or other org that I know it will go to a needy child.

M

It's a nice "idea" but in reality, I can think of lots of ways this might not bring the intended result.
Lots of people (not only the needy) use layaway as a way to keep the things OUT of sight and OUT of the way--not just because they cannot afford the outright purchase.
What if the people have layaway plans all over town and never come to pick up this particular layaway? Then who have you helped?
Personally, I prefer to help people on a more personal level. We never have to look very far for a family to "adopt" at Christmastime. I think we all have people that we know that could probably use some direct help at this time of year, right?

I have heard of people doing this but I have not personally done this. We, as a family, actually sponsor a family for Christmas. People just don't put toys/clothes for their kids. Doing this you never know the type of person you are doing this for. Do they truly need it? Are you sure their kids aren't going to have a Christmas if you don't? I'd rather sponsor a family, purchase for everyone, and then I know they are truly in need. Also I don't know about Kmart but all Walmart layaways needed to be paid for in full and picked up by last Friday.

My mother put things on layaway at Walmart. Each time she made a payment, and the time she made the final payment to pickup...she had to show identification. She just grabbed her card once and left her purse in the car, and they made her go get her license. I don't think it would be possible to do that at Walmart here. Maybe, at other places.

With that said, I think it's a really sweet idea. I would still rather purchase something off the angel tree, for people who have absolutely no money. If gifts are on layaway, it suggests that the person is simply purchasing within a payment plan and specific budget...not that they are destitute. (Personally, I don't have much money. I want to make sure it goes further, is all I'm saying.) Not that it matters. Giving is giving...and giving is always a wonderful thing!! No matter who is the recipient, good deeds make the world a better place. I do think the gesture of paying for someone in any case, demonstrates true Christmas spirit. All in all, it's a great thing to do.

I wouldn't do this myself. While I appreciate the concept, I heard someone say they appreciated the fact that someone paid off "hundreds of dollars in toys for my kid." Part of me thought -- what kid needs that many toys?

I'd rather put my money toward a reputable organization set up to help families in need with the emergency basics -- food, heating, clothing and toys that they would truly appreciate and need. I don't want to support someone's "wants" or "needs". There are enough "needs" in the world.

They keep the money!?!?! That's wrong. I can see keeping a % for the hassle, but all of it?

What a great idea to help. Typically the people who put items on layaway are the ones struggling the most.

Hopefully the employees will call....I'd hate that they get the money and the items. Ugh.

How timely. I have on a talk radio station in Los Angeles and the topic at the top of the hour was this. They too were misinformed that the money is kept if not paid off. I have never thought of it and I appreciate Suzie Q's perspective that she is budgeting and doesn't need it.

I don't know how to trust that the items are given to the person you are helping. Unless you know the person, how do you do it and make sure the people at the store don't lie about it. I know, it's terrible that I don't trust people. But I really do not. If I could do it and be certain that it's handled right, I'd do it.

I think it's a wonderful idea!

If you did it thanks so much. There have been times when the only way we could get our children much was via Kmarts layaway and had someone paid it off for us I would have been so moved and relived you pry would have made me cry.

So thanks everyone who has done that. Alot of people who don't do fabulous use this as a way to get their children Christmas presents. :)