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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Layaway programs are in high demand this Christmas shopping season.

The programs are one way consumers are stretching their spending money during these unstable economic times.

In past years, many retailers have done away with layaway, but now stores that offer the program are cashing in.

Holiday shoppers like Stephanie Behymer are flocking to stores like Kmart.

"Right now we're just putting everything on layaway," Behymer said.

With four kids at home, Christmas presents get pricey and lay away keeps financial stresses to a minimum.

"It helps out on the money situation, you get to pay every two weeks and it just helps out a lot," Behymer said.

Kmart is one of the only stores in Ottumwa with a layaway program. Store manager Harold McClurg says he is seeing a surge of interest in it.

"Our lay away this year is significantly higher than it has been. We've had to increase our storage space for it," McClurg said.

In fact, he said the amount of people using layaway has doubled. The store manager tells KTVO that sometimes customers lay away up to $700 worth of merchandise.

"Toys are the biggest items we've had on layaway, electronics. The X-box games, the Wii games," McClurg said.

Christmas ornaments and other keepsakes are also finding their way to lay way at the Hallmark store at the Quincy Place Mall

"We have noticed this year that our lay away program has picked up and that people are taking advantage of that program," Hallmark Store Manager Tonya Findley said.

Across the country layaway is just one way shoppers are looking to ration their shopping money during this shaky economy.

"You don't have to use a credit card, if you don't have a credit card, you can put on a payment plan that's easy for them to make and they can make sure they get the purchase when they need it," McClurg said.

Kmart has been running ads for weeks now advertising the popular shopping program.