All of the little neighborhood stores had a metal rack that held heavy paper cards. When you purchased something on credit the store keeper wrote the info on the cards. At the end of the month, or after your payday, you were expected to either pay some or all of the money you owed. No interest or extra charges were involved.If times were tough for a family the store owner often let things slide for a while. It was a small community and everyone knew everyone so the shop owner knew most folks that were having money issues. And most folks were honest.