‘Santa B’ Pays Off $166,000 in Layaways at Walmart

Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links on our site, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend.

Mildenmi / Shutterstock.com

Christmas came a little early this year for hundreds of Pennsylvanians when an anonymous donor — known only as “Santa B” — paid off roughly $166,000 worth of layaway purchases at three Pennsylvania Walmart stores.

According to PennLive, Santa B paid off the following layaway balances at Pennsylvania Walmarts:

  • $74,000: Dauphin County
  • $46,000: Bedford County
  • $46,000: Lebanon County

Nicknamed the “layaway angel” by some Walmart workers, Santa B’s generosity came as a welcome surprise to Sandy Terry, who tells CNBC that the anonymous donation paid off her $75 layaway balance for an Xbox for her 6-year-old grandson. Terry isn’t sure she would have been able to pay down the balance before Christmas without Santa B’s help.

“I’m just so thankful that [my grandson’s] going to get it this year. Thank you so much to [the person who] paid it off for me.”

Retailers such as Walmart and Kmart use layaway to help financially strapped shoppers reserve an item, pay a deposit on it, and then make payments on it over time.

In a statement, Walmart officials praised Santa B’s generosity, PennLive reports.

When customers quietly pay off others’ layaway items, we’re reminded how good people can be. The joy that comes from these transactions extends well beyond dollars and cents. We’re honored to be a small part of these random acts of kindness.

According to PennLive, Santa B isn’t new to making a holiday layaway payoff. In 2015, the generous donor paid off $180,000 in layaway balances in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The year before that, Santa B shelled out $50,000 in layaway payoffs at another Pennsylvania Walmart.

What do you think of Santa B’s generosity? Sound off below or on Facebook.

Get smarter with your money!

Want the best money-news and tips to help you make more and spend less? Then sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter to receive daily updates of personal finance news and advice, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today.