Last Minute Shopping
By: Eric Crosswhite
Updated: December 23, 2012
JOPLIN -- It's something most people are guilty of at some time or another- last minute Christmas shopping.
"Right up to the very last," says shopper Gregg Martin.
"I get some stuff ahead, but I always end up doing last minute," says Shirley Carter.
Martin was just one of many people scanning the isles at Walgreens in Joplin, trying to find the right presents just days before Santa comes to town.
"I'm a putter-offer. Tomorrow, tomorrow I'm going to really get started."
He has come to realize procrastinators pay a price when it comes to Christmas shopping.
"The roads are really congested, the stores are congested."
Carter was also shopping at Walgreens on Sunday, and says she never intends to wait until the last minute, but it always seems to happen.
"I decided I'd better do a little more Christmas shopping before Christmas on Tuesday. It's almost here!"
But she's discovered a few tricks that make the search for gifts a little bit easier.
"I usually pretty well know what I'm looking for. I kind of have in mind what I'm getting for certain people."
Martin says he has learned one important lesson over the years: Don't wait until the last minute when shopping for your wife.
"She was first on the list."
both shoppers agree, wrapping up the holiday business will be a huge relief.
"Hopefully I'm going to be done after today," Carter says. "I better be!"
"I'm going to say it like I said last year: I'm not gong to do this again," Martin says. "I'm going to get an early start, but we'll see if that happens."
Managers at Walgreens say they try to accommodate the last minute shoppers. That's why they'll be open until midnight Sunday, and until there are no more shoppers on Christmas eve.
"Right up to the very last," says shopper Gregg Martin.
"I get some stuff ahead, but I always end up doing last minute," says Shirley Carter.
Martin was just one of many people scanning the isles at Walgreens in Joplin, trying to find the right presents just days before Santa comes to town.
"I'm a putter-offer. Tomorrow, tomorrow I'm going to really get started."
He has come to realize procrastinators pay a price when it comes to Christmas shopping.
"The roads are really congested, the stores are congested."
Carter was also shopping at Walgreens on Sunday, and says she never intends to wait until the last minute, but it always seems to happen.
"I decided I'd better do a little more Christmas shopping before Christmas on Tuesday. It's almost here!"
But she's discovered a few tricks that make the search for gifts a little bit easier.
"I usually pretty well know what I'm looking for. I kind of have in mind what I'm getting for certain people."
Martin says he has learned one important lesson over the years: Don't wait until the last minute when shopping for your wife.
"She was first on the list."
both shoppers agree, wrapping up the holiday business will be a huge relief.
"Hopefully I'm going to be done after today," Carter says. "I better be!"
"I'm going to say it like I said last year: I'm not gong to do this again," Martin says. "I'm going to get an early start, but we'll see if that happens."
Managers at Walgreens say they try to accommodate the last minute shoppers. That's why they'll be open until midnight Sunday, and until there are no more shoppers on Christmas eve.
