During a recent visit to Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, the Tribune talked to shoppers about their holiday spending and shopping plans. Here’s what they had to say:
“My Christmas list is going to be going up this year because I got another job, so I have more income. It had been tough. I’m a full-time live-in nanny, so my rent is paid for but there’s not a lot of disposable income. About a year ago I added a job as a professional air brusher (at a tanning salon), and gained about $12,000 a year. I’m adding eight to 10 people to my gift list; you get to know your tanning clients and they become friends.”
— Amber Bradley, 29, Lake Forest
“We’re going to try to look for more sales and shop smarter. Nothing has happened really, we just want to save money. Every year we’ve been leaving it to the last minute. We’re going to try to do more coupons and actually bring the coupons.”
— Lynda Coughlin, 34, Schaumburg
“I’m planning to do my shopping the day before Christmas, to look for discounts. As a single mom, I take my two children with me and shop on a budget. This year was hard for me. I’m a makeup artist but I suffered a medical condition and I haven’t been able to do my regular job, so I’m working a couple of hours a week in retail.”
— Lyssa Bartley, 49, Evanston
“I will spend a bit more this year. I got a new job that pays me more, so I’ll be adding more people to my list. Amazon gets most of my shopping money, I get pretty much everything there except clothing. It’s just convenient, especially with the free shipping (as a member of Amazon Prime).
— Cortland Griffin, 39, River North
“I don’t think I will have money for any Christmas shopping this year. I’m receiving the same salary (at my job at a junkyard) but taxes have gone up, my cellphone is more expensive, gas prices go up and down, some of my friends have seen their rents increase. Everything changes except the salary. I’m an immigrant and have family in Mexico, where things are very difficult, so most of my money is going to Mexico to help my family. So Christmas shopping is almost zero. But as my grandmother said, good health is the best gift.”
— Arturo Peimbert, 40, Elgin
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“I recently got a job that will allow me to get my family the quality of gifts I would like to get them. Before I was getting them one gift each or a subpar gift. I use social media when I’m shopping. Like, I’ll tweet out from Akira that they have great stuff. I want to help a brand get more exposure, and maybe in the long run they’ll follow me on Twitter.”
— Christine Domino, 25, Schaumburg