PNBL was a thing at some point (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layaway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layaway) but was rendered obsolete by the advent of credit c

PNBL was a thing at some point (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layaway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layaway) but was rendered obsolete by the advent of credit cards. Seems to me like a personal austerity measure which becomes more popular in worse economic conditions. The cynic in me believes that there's more money to be made when you encourage people to spend less responsibly and with less financial literacy.