Christmas in June

Toys R Us has announced a holiday layaway plan for shoppers, and I think it's one of the smartest new ideas I've heard in a long time...even if it's an old one. Customers can put away up to $2,500 in their Christmas Savers Club and Toys R Us will pay them 3% on whatever they've saved by October 31, at which point the funds can be used to shop for presents. Nevermind that 3% is more than double the average savings account yields available from banks these days, or that helping consumers plan ahead with their money borders on contributing to the public good. Or that Toys R Us can kick-off its holiday selling push by announcing some multi-million dollar giveback to its customers.