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Feature: Americans expect a frugal Christmas

Published: 23/12/2008 05:00

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The struggling economy has more people tightening their belts for Christmas in the United States this year. But retailers are offering numerous sales in a bid to get shoppers to open their wallets.

A shopper looks over discounted merchandise at Macy’s department store in New York City, December 23, 2008, the second to last shopping day before Christmas. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

We hit the streets Tuesday in Chicago to find out how shoppers are responding.

Laura Graf was busy helping her son Bradley pick out a Polo sweat shirt at a Macy’s Store in the Promenade Bolingbrook, 30 miles southwest of Chicago. Christmas is right around the corner during a freezing, snowy winter in the U.S..

“We bought him all kinds of clothes last year for Christmas, even a leather jacket and some games,” Graf told Xinhua while her son was trying on a dark blue Polo. “This year we have no choice but to cut spending on Christmas gifts.”

At her feet, Graf sported a couple of shopping bags adorned with the famous Macy’s red star logo. All of the items she bought were sold at a discount.

Across the United States, retailers have dramatically reduced prices to attract customers who have tightly guarded their pocketbooks amid growing worries about the deteriorating economy.

The retailers have done their homework and their calculation rights. Graf, for one, said she would never buy anything unless it was on sale or with a coupon. “Right now, I don’t buy anything unless it’s absolutely necessary,” she said.

Her frugal shopping strategy is widely shared by people at a time of extreme economic difficulty. Kamara Taylor who is not in danger of being dismissed even as the unemployment rate soars in the United States, told Xinhua that she is scared to see her colleagues laid off.

“You have to be prepared. You have to save money for the uncertainties. When you have to spend, you spend wisely,” she said. She agreed that gift giving these days is done solely on the basis of necessity.

In good times, Christmas is when people wrap their creativity and surprise into gift boxes. Of course, figuring out what family and friends want and hunting for the perfect gifts are time consuming. “Now the economic crisis kills the fun,” Taylor says. “But it also ends the frustration,” she quickly added with a smile.

Doris, who reluctantly gave her last name, adopted an even more practical ay of shopping for gifts.

She simply asked her family and relatives what they needed before shopping. “You definitely don’t want to waste time and money,” said Doris.

The only person she had not yet asked was her brother who was remodeling his house. “I already know where to get the stuff he needs,” she said.

“Christmas is all about giving and getting together no matter what,” Doris said. She said holiday spending would shrink and fewer people would receive gifts this year. “You know, people just don’t have extra money to spend on gifts,” she said.

Tracy Pionek said her gift budget decreased from 150 dollars per person to this year’s 50 dollars, or even less.

Tight budgets seem to be the consensus on Christmas spending at a time when the majority of Americans are feeling the pinch of a battered economy.

Greg, whose job is to enforce corporation financial compliance, is a rare exception though. He refuses to identify with the economic crisis and blames the government for bailing out the failing financial institutes and auto industries.

“I actually spend more this year on my kids,” he told Xinhua, grinning. He said he didn’t feel any different from last year or any other time.

That’s good for Greg and his family. But other people in the country really suffer from the financial crisis.

According to a report issued last week by the Labor Department, consumer prices fell 1.7 percent in November, the sharpest single month slump since February 1947. That dip surpassed the previous record drop of 1 percent set only a month earlier.

It’s for economists to decide whether the troubled economy is in a recession or depression, Americans, meanwhile, are bracing for their biggest holiday with undimmed Christmas spirit.

Laura’s face brightened when talking about her Christmas celebration.

“We are going to bake cookies together, cook together and have Christmas dinner together,” she said, adding that “to keep family together and close is most important.”

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet

Update from: http://english.vietnamnet.vn//international/2008/12/820306/

Provide by Vietnam Travel

Feature: Americans expect a frugal Christmas - International - News |  vietnam travel company

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