Shopping during an economic downturn?

Everywhere you read, it is doom and doom and gloom, sigh! There seems to be no end in sight. Banks are closing, companies are retrenching and countries are declaring bankrupt. But, and that is a big BUT, we still have to go on living and eating, if not we will die, period.

What do you buy during an economic downturn? Where should you place your dire-straits dollars and cents? How do you stretch the mighty ringgit? Well, that calls for innovation and some homework.

There is this pretty neat site for all your online shopping needs that actually does all the searching for you. It is some sort of Google shopping search engine that seeks out all the stores in cyberspace and brings to your home the best shopping details for you to make a neat decision. In these troubled times, one cannot afford the luxury of paying more for the similar item that can be purchased cheaper elsewhere.

Also, one would rather shop for the daily necessities such as children’s clothing, books, or other stuff that your growing kids cannot do without. Maybe and occasional toy for good behavior but expensive toys is a no-no.

So shop wisely, plan your shopping needs, go for the best deals and compare prices by doing some homework. Wishing you all the best to overcome this dreadful recession.

Technorati Tags: kids,shopping,books,toys

Oldest Shopping Center

On my recent travel in Maui, Hawaii, I came across this sign along the main road that says, "Oldest Shopping Center - west of the Mississippi". The sign stands for the Kahului Shopping Center that is located on a very busy street near the Bus Terminal on Kahului.


In my mind, I was looking out for a huge shopping complex like those that we have back home. Here we have multi storeyed malls, underground carparks, air-conditioned cinemas, shops upon shops, and you can literally walk until you drop. The whole atmosphere is modern and spick and span.

But to my amazement, I saw a row of shops (roughly about 7 shops in a row) that is actually called the "Oldest Shopping Center". What a laugh. Maybe, during the past era, it would have been the grandest shops around, but certainly it pales in comparison with some of the recent malls around.