(Tulsa, OK) --- As more families struggle in the tough economy, retailers are trying to make paying for holiday gifts more flexible by offering layaway options. With layaway experiencing a comeback, your Better Business Bureau offers the following guidance on how to use this old fashioned payment plan in lieu of credit cards. Many businesses are shaking the dust off their layaway programs for today's beleaguered consumer. Kmart's layaway program saw double-digit increases in customers and sales in 2008 and, according to the company, the word "layaway" had more than double the interest among U.S. web searchers in August 2009 than it had in August 2008. "It is a sign of our rough economic times that consumers are turning to layaway to purchase the basics, rather than just luxury items," said Rick Brinkley, President/CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Oklahoma. "For many families this holiday season, it's not just gifts and decorations that will be purchased on layaway, but also the basic items needed to get by in everyday life."Buying items on layaway is different from putting them on a credit card because the buyer isn't charged interest on the purchase and can't take the item home until it is paid off. When purchasing items on layaway, the buyer must typically make a down payment of 10 to 20 percent and pay any service or plan fees for the store to hold the item for them. The customer then has typically 30 to 90 days to make periodic payments to pay off the balance. Once it is paid off, the customer can take the items home. As a complement to in-store layaway, some stores provide online layaway services for purchasing items through the retailer's Web site. Additionally, third-party businesses have sprung up for the purpose of setting up layaway plans online between customers and retailers that don't already have a layaway program. Customers make periodic payments to the third-party layaway service provider. Once the item is fully paid for, the business then buys the item from the retailer and ships it to the customer. When buying items on layaway, BBB advises consumers to get everything in writing and offers the following checklist of questions to ask:

• How much time do I have to pay off the item?

• When are the payments due?

• How much do I have to put down?

• Are there any storage or service plan fees?

• What happens if I miss a payment? Are there penalties? Does the item return to inventory?

• Can I get a refund or store credit if I no longer want the item after making a few payments?

• What happens if the item goes on sale after I've put it on layaway?

(Tulsa, Ok)--You may be enjoying a day off, but H1N1 swine flu is not taking Memorial Day off. Tulsa City-County Health Department's Melanie Christian says the danger is still real. However she points out the latest strain is milder then first feared. Health authorities continue getting reports from hospitals and doctor's offices on people showing symptoms. With the holiday and travel season starting as well as the opening of summer camps it is possible the illness could continue to spread. 

(Tulsa, Ok)--Stick with well known charities. The advice from Oklahoma Attorney-General Drew Edmondson comes as holiday giving climbs. While there is much need, he warns some looking for your donation are doing it out of greed. Edmondson says scammers are all too willing to take advantage of your holiday spirit of giving. He says highly emotional appeals and those seeking your donation over the phone should be avoided.  

(Tulsa, Ok)--A line snakes around the Salvation Army Christmas Center at 9140 East 31st Street in Tulsa. This week and next the Army is accepting applications for holiday help. Those signing up expect to get food baskets and Christmas gifts for their children. As many as four hundred people lined up each of the first two days. Salvation Army officials expect that to continue each day. Suzanne Cooper and Martha Ward were among those looking for help. Ward says the economic crisis is making it even harder on her family. She has a daughter and grandchildren who recently moved in to her home. Ward says it is hard to make the dollar stretch even farther this year. Last year Cooper helped people get to the Salvation Army Center. This year she had to line up for help herself. The Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m.--1:00 p.m. The final sign up day is November 6th.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - For the second consecutive year, back-to-school shoppers in Oklahoma will be able to stock up on school clothing without paying sales taxes.

City, county and state sales taxes will be suspended next weekend during the state's annual sales tax holiday. It will run from 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 1 through midnight Aug. 3.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission says shoppers saved $6.4 million during last year's sales tax holiday. Shoppers are expected to save up to $6.6 million this year.

But the tax commission says it's hard to predict how many people will take advantage of the three-day event.

In Oklahoma the tax exemption applies to any article of clothing that costs less than $100. Accessories and special clothing or shoes designed specifically for athletics will be taxed.