A generous person who wanted to make the holidays special for a group of people walked into a Pennsylvania Walmart late last week and paid off every single item on layaway.
The total came to $29,000.
“When customers quietly pay off others’ layaway items, we’re reminded how good people can be. We’re honored to be a small part of these random acts of kindness,” Walmart told ABC 6.
Some of the families wanted to connect with the anonymous donor to thank him or her.
But Walmart said the Secret Santa insisted on staying anonymous.
Picking up the entire tab of layaways at Walmarts has become a tradition in the United States.
Also last week, a Secret Santa paid nearly $45,000 to erase all layaway debt at a Walmart in Colorado, reported 9 News. The Secret Santa also opted to stay anonymous after buying the items at a Longmont Walmart.
And in New York, a Secret Santa anonymously paid off dozens of shoppers’ layaway accounts. Shopper Vanessa Rodriguez said she found out when a woman in line started crying tears of joy.
“A few minutes later the cashier told everyone in line that the same donor had paid off everyone’s account. We were all really surprised and happy but just so, so very grateful,” she told Newsday.
In Vermont in mid-November, an anonymous man paid for all the layaway purchases at the Walmart in Derby. “This can’t be, who can afford to pay for everyone’s layaway? And he said, ‘Santa Claus can,’” Julie Gates, one of the shoppers who had items on layaway, told WCAX.
Another shopper, Tammy Desautels, said the generosity touched her. Her family was going through a tough spell after her husband broke his foot.
“It really helped me a lot,” Desautels said. “I really have a feeling that there is hope for mankind or whatever—there’s still good people out there.”
Christmas Spending
Nine in ten Americans and 95 percent of Christians celebrate Christmas, according to a Pew Research Survey.
A critical part of Christmas is buying gifts for loved ones.
This year, consumers said they were planning on spending an average of $1,007.24 during the winter holiday season, with $215.04 of that planned for food, decorations, flowers, and greeting cards, according to the National Retail Foundation.
Adults told Gallup that they planned on spending an average of $885 on Christmas gifts in 2018, the highest holiday spending projection since the 2007 to 2009 recession. That included 33 percent of respondents who said they planned on spending at least $1,000 on Christmas gifts.
A 2017 survey from the Lincoln Financial Group found that millennials typically spend more on the holidays versus other age groups, at an average of $1,400. That was $500 more than boomers and Generation Xers.
Experts said people should save up throughout the year if planning to spend big for the holidays, and plan ahead and make a budget.
“It’s tempting to splurge at this time of year, but it’s important to ensure that holiday spending doesn’t derail your finances,” said Jamie Ohl, president at Lincoln Financial Group, in a statement. “As with all financial matters, planning is a good way to stay on track, even when you’re tempted by sales and impulse buys.”