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Residents flock to the malls for Black Friday
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by Michele Catahay, KUAM News
Friday, November 23, 2007
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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...at the malls, that is. Thousands of early birds started their Christmas shopping, as today began the "other" annual holiday tradition: the first - and busiest - shopping day of the year. KUAM News hit the streets for a post-Thanksgiving report that proves that this Black Friday saw lots of green being exchanged in island shops.
A recent survey from America's Research Group showed that 47% of Americans planned to shop on Black Friday. Residents flocked to the Micronesia Mall in Dededo this morning, as some of the popular stores opened for business at 6 in the morning. Holiday shopper Enid Cabatbat says the sales were worth waiting in the busy lines. She says when buying gifts for your loved ones, it's important to live within your means. "It's very important to have a budget because you don't want to go overboard and be in debt the whole year long of what you bought," she said.
Cabatbat says popular items on her list today include clothing and appliances, all bought from Macy's Department Store.
Meanwhile, Bestseller Bookstore was one of the stores offering early bird specials beginning at 7 this morning. Sales associate Nadine Llamas explained, "It's going to be really busy. Those who are book lovers, I suggest you come early because there are lots of things going. They're coming and going. We have a lot in stock but all of the good stuff usually go out fast." Llamas says readers tend to purchase more children's books, fiction and romance novels.
If you plan to start your shopping soon, president of BankPacific Phil Flores says it's important to make a budget and stick to it. "If you have to borrow money, try not to make it on a credit card, because the interest on a credit card is very expensive," he said. "It could be that in January, if you run up your credit card, instead of paying it by the month, instead get a loan and pay it off on a lower interest rate."
Various local banks offer Christmas loans with lower interest rates. And if you plan to purchase items online, you should buy them now. Another option is to give from the heart by make something that won't cost you a thing.
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