Stretching holiday budgets: How shoppers at Devonshire Mall are navigating inflation

Despite a challenging year marked by inflation and rising costs, holiday shoppers at Windsor's Devonshire Mall pressed on Tuesday, determined to check some items off their gift list.

With just two weeks until Christmas, the mall was buzzing with shoppers finding creative ways to stretch their budgets.

“It's much more expensive than I remember it being, said Emily Neufeld. “Especially with kiddos.”

Neufeld said her family is opting to prioritize buying gifts for the young ones, forgoing buying for other adults.

“Me and my husband are not shopping for each other,” she said.

“We decided that we're just going to do stockings for each other and then just focus on the kiddos.”

Another mom said she’s been prioritizing quality over quantity.

“I'm just going to be more intentional and buy more specific gifts, rather than buying so many,” she said.

Financial planner Andrea Thompson of ModernCents.ca said that’s going to prove to be a key strategy this holiday season.

“I'm not seeing a reduction in spending. I think it's just more thoughtful spending,” she said.

Thompson said gift-giving isn’t usually a facet where people cut back – especially after a tough year like 2024.

“It's been a hard year, and it's a bit of a reward at this time of year,” she said.

“A lot of clients will say ‘I'll just deal with it in January’ and that's not necessarily the best financial planning.”

Her advice? Keep yourself in check.

“Be mindful of who you're buying for, how much you’d like to spend on each person and how many gifts you intend to buy. Then stick to that,” said Thompson.

At Devonshire, that’s what folks say they’re trying to do.

“We're getting ready to retire next year,” said Sandra Horn.

“So, the kids have already been warned that they're not going to get as spoiled as they used to.”

One shopper even said they’ve resorted to selling personal items online to free up extra cash.

“I’m selling a bunch of stuff on (Facebook) Marketplace so I can buy more presents right now,” shared Axel Barroso.

One old school strategy still helping shoppers today? The bargain hunt.

Starr Halls said she only found herself at the mall because she “heard some items were 75 per cent off.”

If you are planning to go to Devonshire Mall – and find yourself leaving things until the last minute – you have until 5 p.m. on Dec. 24.