Turn to alternative places to save money buying gifts

This holiday season, some people avoid the malls and department stores for their sales. Believe it or not,  some folks choose to do their Christmas shopping at pawn shops and thrift stores.

Maxine Slater just bought a Christmas gift..for herself. Twenty bucks is all she spent on a silver ring, which is about a third of the retail price. She found it at Golden Pawn in Birmingham.

Slater said, "I've always worked at retail stores over the years. So I do know value when I see it. So this is a way to get value at a reasonable price."

Golden Pawn's owner,  Mitch Smith,  says people are coming in and doing Christmas shopping for others. They're looking to save money.

Smith said, "People coming trying to find the gift they'll find at the mall. Game systems are a hot item, PS3, XBOX, Wii and flat screen TV's. They'll pay $500 for something (at department stores), and might pay $250 or $275 from us."

Smith says people shop with confidence. All of his items are checked and guaranteed. The business boost isn't just from holiday shoppers. Reality shows like "Pawn Stars" have helped peak interest from a lot of people.

Smith said, "Its educated public more on what pawn shops are, takes some of the stigma away."
 
Consignment shops are seeing the same boost in business this holiday season.
The owner of Collage Consignment says business is up 15% at her Vestavia Hills store and 30% in Homewood. It's qwner, Tracy True Dismukes, said, "I think people are realizing that it's just a smart way to shop at Christmas. They're realizing they can get more for their money."

That's exactly why Dana Stuckensneider keeps coming back.

She says it's all about shopping smart at a time when you can easily over spend. Stuckensneider said, "You can find nice things for half off original  the cost if not more."

You never know what you'll find at these places. A lot of things at Collage Consignment still had the original tags on them. And at Golden Pawn, some items were in their original packaging.

You may want to consider all of this before you hit the malls, if you're looking to save money.

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