Richmond Hill
November 27, 2008 10:13 PM
Adam Mc Lean
The saying goes: it is better to give than receive.
But, with the currently shaky state of the global economy and business difficulties, the holiday shopping season may not be jolly this year.
At Richmond Hill’s Hillcrest Mall this week, ‘Jingle Bells’ was pumping across the loud speakers and with a line-up of children eager to pour out their gift confessions to Santa Claus, it seemed status-quo, although a certain holiday bustle seemed to be somewhat lacking.
One mall employee who would only give his name as Angelo was taking a smoke break beyond the mall doors and offered his keen observations and comparisons between this holiday season and seasons past.
“The bad economy is affecting everybody, people are not spending as much, they are being more careful with their money. Compared to other years, the mall is not busy,” Angelo added.
Still, there is evidence of stuffed shopping carts, arms filled with gift bags, folks meandering through the Food Court with gift lists directing their paths.
So, people are still spending, but are they spending less this year, keeping their wallets and purse strings tight to their person? Or is it business as usual for holidays shoppers?
“I am definately spending less this time,” Cindy Lee said as she entered the mall.
“It is partly my own choice and partly because of the economy,” said the 68-year-old Richmond Hill resident.
“Money is tight this year, but I am also taking it upon myself to not go overboard, which I have done in years past when I buy gifts for my grandchildren.
“You don’t realize just how crazy you went until you get the credit card bill and then you think ‘how did this happen’?”.
Some shoppers are still choosing to suffer the traditional holiday hangover of spending too much.
“This Christmas will be business as usual and then I will cry come the new year,” said Sandra Modena after a morning of shopping.
Toronto resident Ron Willers was in Richmond Hill to visit friends and do some shopping and admitted his approach will change slightly.
“I will be a little less voracious in my gift giving, but I plan to buy the same amount of gifts from myself this year, maybe more,” Mr. Willers confessed. “I am a retiree on a fixed income, I realize what I can and can’t get away with,” he added.
This year some shoppers are taking a second look at the spirituality of the holidays.
“This time of year has changed for me over the years, it has become more of a spiritual time,” Mathab Enayati said.
Though she still shops for family and friends, she wraps herself in the essence of holiday cheer, rather than stacks of presents.
“It is sad that the economy is affecting so many, so negatively and many people are having trouble, but I feel the holidays are not about how many presents you receive or materialism, it is more about being a good person.”