Before credit cards, there was layaway. Born in the Great Depression, the method of retailers holding goods for customers while they make a series of payments, is making a comeback.

Santina Lauter of Cleveland shops around for stores with layaway plans before she goes shopping.

"I think it's the best thing, especially for people like us," said Lauter, who is on disability. "We really don't have that much of a income. With Christmas and things going up, it's hard."

For Lauter and some other layaway shoppers at Burlington Coat Factory, mid-November means there's only 10 shopping days left until Christmas.

The layaway policy at Burlington Coat Factory requires a 25 percent down payment. With an additional $5 fee, Lauter chose to take 30 days to pay off the rest of her $411 bill for clothing at the store. The trade-off: the store holds her purchase until full payment is made.

"I'd rather pay a $5 fee than a high (credit card) interest rate," Lauter said.

Mary Beth Mudra, store manager at Burlington Coat Factory in Middleburg Heights said more customers are choosing layaway on big ticket purchases this year.

"It's off the charts," Mudra said. "It is the economy that is forcing people into spreading their money out."

Layaways fell out of favor as credit cards became more commonplace. Wal-Mart even discontinued layaway programs.

But layaways are up more than 2.5 percent at Burlington Coat Factory stores this year. And other retailers like Sears and Kmart are marketing layaway plans to consumers this holiday season.

Most retailers offer store credits or refunds to customers if they don't pay off their layaway items. And retailers see little risk in such programs because the goods can easily be restocked if a shopper doesn't make full payment.