I recently read an article about how the last decade has made many of the 1980s’ most popular objects obsolete. The author cited rolodexes, Polaroid photos and foldable road maps as things that were once ubiquitous and are now nearly nonexistent because of changes in technology and habits. But there’s one thing that was popular in the ’80s that has had a recent resurgence: layaway. For the first time in more than a decade, layaway signs graced the windows of many retailers this holiday shopping season. I noticed them on an Olympia Sports store in New Hampshire while I...