Don't break the bank this Christmas
There are plenty of low-cost gift-giving alternatives such as thrift stores and Wal-Mart
By: Matt Germany
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: News
This year's Black Friday, the infamous shopping day after Thanksgiving, was blacker than most. Across the country, the rush of frantic consumers erupted in violence-a Wal-Mart employee trampled, two Toys R' Us patrons shot. But if you survived Black Friday (or avoided it altogether) you still have plenty of time to figure out your holiday shopping for this year.
"Thank the lord, no! I did not participate in Black Friday," said University of Memphis junior, Clark Schafani. "You don't want to get between a crazed grandma and her gifts for the grandchildren."
However, he said his mom was still willing to "fight it out" for gifts for his younger sister.
After all, some Wal-Marts are open 24 hours, even during the final hours before the gift-giving begins.
"I can get all of my shopping done there in one stop," said Simone Thomas, a biology major at the U of M. "You can go there like Dec. 23 and knock everything out. They've got it all."
Her friend, music industry major Crystal Woods, also listed the retail giant as her primary shopping destination. She's already figured out most of her shopping list: CDs for her brothers, jewelry for her sister-in-laws, and toys for the nieces and nephews. With Wal-Mart stocking everything from throw pillows to rifles, finding everything on her list should be fairly easy to find.
Similarly, Schifani cited Target as his preferred holiday battleground. "I'm a last-minute shopper," he said. "Kind of like with exams, I work better under pressure."
Asked if the weak economy has changed her holiday agenda, Thomas replied, "Not really, the economy was already screwed up long before December."
Since he had already proclaimed himself "worst gift-giver in the world," Schifani said that the economy could not have much of an impact on his giving. However, he was a bit concerned that the stifled economy might affect what he receives. He said he hopes to get a new iPod from his parents, and he looks forward to the annual $100 his grandmother gives to all of her grandkids.
"Thank the lord, no! I did not participate in Black Friday," said University of Memphis junior, Clark Schafani. "You don't want to get between a crazed grandma and her gifts for the grandchildren."
However, he said his mom was still willing to "fight it out" for gifts for his younger sister.
After all, some Wal-Marts are open 24 hours, even during the final hours before the gift-giving begins.
"I can get all of my shopping done there in one stop," said Simone Thomas, a biology major at the U of M. "You can go there like Dec. 23 and knock everything out. They've got it all."
Her friend, music industry major Crystal Woods, also listed the retail giant as her primary shopping destination. She's already figured out most of her shopping list: CDs for her brothers, jewelry for her sister-in-laws, and toys for the nieces and nephews. With Wal-Mart stocking everything from throw pillows to rifles, finding everything on her list should be fairly easy to find.
Similarly, Schifani cited Target as his preferred holiday battleground. "I'm a last-minute shopper," he said. "Kind of like with exams, I work better under pressure."
Asked if the weak economy has changed her holiday agenda, Thomas replied, "Not really, the economy was already screwed up long before December."
Since he had already proclaimed himself "worst gift-giver in the world," Schifani said that the economy could not have much of an impact on his giving. However, he was a bit concerned that the stifled economy might affect what he receives. He said he hopes to get a new iPod from his parents, and he looks forward to the annual $100 his grandmother gives to all of her grandkids.