If there is any indicator that everyday folks in this country are still suffering the effects of the Great Recession, it's the country's largest retailer bringing back a program made popular during the Great Depression: layway.

Starting on October 17th and running through December 16th, Walmart customers will be able to perform the once obsolete ritual of putting more expensive items on reserve, making interest-free payments on them, and then picking them up when they're paid for. Kinda odd when, not so long ago, it was commonplace to get the item immediately in exchange for an extra twenty-percent, depending on the brand of financial vampire who issued your credit card.

There are a few caveats to this service. First, to qualify for layway, items must be either toys or electronics costing at least $15, and the total purchase must be $50 and up. So if you were hoping to put a twelve pack of Busch Lite and your favorite Larry the Cable Guy DVD up on the program, you might be out of luck. Second, a ten-percent down payment will be due when the customer signs up, and there will be a $5 sign up fee and a $10 cancellation fee.

This isn't all for the benefit of Walmart's lower income customers, though. The company itself has seen a large decline in sales over the last nine quarters, and they're hoping the return of the once popular program will tickle the consumerist button in the nation's destitute sector.

If you don't dig Walmart, Sears and K-Mart have been doing the layway renaissance for a few years now, as well as Toys "R" Us, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls. I think layaway is a great way to foster responsible spending and maybe even get people reacquainted with the positive aspects of delayed gratification. It might also save some lives during the time of year when one of the most frequent causes of death is by stampede for a $100 laptop.