General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Woman visits Toys R Us, pays off everyone's layaway. [View all]tabbycat31
(6,336 posts)I was 4 when the Cabbage Patch Kids craze was around, and that was the ONLY thing I wanted for Christmas that year. My grandfather pitched a tent at Toys R Us to make sure that I had one. I have younger cousins (13 and 14) who ask for things by name and have been forever. My nieces (infant and 2) aren't at that stage in life yet. BUt if a kid wants something with Elmo or Frozen on it because they LOVE Elmo or Frozen, then that's what the kid wants. At one point, my cousins watched Nickelodeon or Disney Channel every day (I got so sick of it when babysitting for them) and while Disney did not have 'outside' ads (only for Disney products), Nick's commercials were either toys or junk food.
As for homespun gifts. As someone who knows how to knit, I can say that the yarn for a good scarf (that's not itchy) is more expensive than buying a cheap one.
Layaway is not only about not being able to afford. Many people don't have space to hide their kids presents before Christmas (as a kid, I discovered all of them) and use layaway as temporary storage that peering eyes can't get into.