Patrons crowd the cashier lines in the Twin City Superstore in downtown Kingston, yesterday, as they conduct last-minute Christmas shopping. - Photo by Michelle-Ann Letman
Consumers, who were out shopping in downtown Kingston yesterday afternoon, were ensuring that they stuck to their budget and got the best deals that were available.
Shauna Baker, a 29-year-old mother of three, told The Gleaner that she was limiting the amount of money she would spend this year because she did not know what the New Year would bring.
"You don't want to spend off the money and then regret it next year," Baker said.
"I am shopping mainly for my children," said Baker, who was in the middle of picking out her children's clothes in a popular department store. She has two boys, aged two and six, and a four-year-old girl.
Maximum spend
Baker said she budgeted for a maximum of $10,000 during the holiday, the majority of which was being spent on her children.
Julian Brown was out shopping for household items, but was trying to find the best deals possible.
"I am shopping on a budget, to ensure that the money last until the end of January because no one knows what the new year will bring," Brown told The Gleaner.
Melanie Madhoo, a 36-year-old mother of two children - a 17-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy, said she too was shopping mainly for her children.
Although she had no fixed budget, Madhoo told The Gleaner she usually does not spend much money during the festive season because things are more costly.
"I'm doing my shopping after the Christmas because things are too expensive now," she said.
At the Courts store, persons were going for the deals. A representative said customers were mostly buying the Whirlpool items because they had a chance of winning one year of free groceries. He noted that the Precision 21-inch television was also a hot number because the price was reduced.
At Twin City Superstore, the cashiers could not get a break as shoppers flocked the store to buy clothing items.
A store representative said, while there was a men's department, it was mostly women's clothing that were being sold.