No last minute rush to buy schoolbooks

STREETS in San Fernando were not as busy compared to previous years as many parents yesterday said they opted to shop for their children school supplies a month ago to avoid the last minute rush.

However, the few parents meandering through the streets of High Street, St James Street and Mucurapo Street told Sunday Newsday they came into the city to purchase one item. Most of the people walking along the streets boasted of successfully completing their back to school shopping in August.

“Okay let me tell you this, I am guilty of last minute shopping. But this year I didn’t want to be caught up in that crowd, so since August I started doing my shopping.” said mother of three Annette Forbes, 36. She said at the end of August she was able to purchase everything on her children booklists.

“And today I am just here to get some additional undergarments, and I got them already so I am on my way home.” Forbes said she was shocked to see High Street was not as busy. “There are few people here but this is not the usual crowd you get the weekend before school opens. I think that more and more people are realising that it is better to avoid last minute rush.”

Sandra Boodoo, of Debe, said she was happy she also had shopped for her children weeks ago. “I was also preparing for a wedding that same time, so within that time I also purchased everything on my children booklists,” said a smiling Boodoo.

Lisa Mohammed, 28, said she came to the city with her two children and just decided to take a walk along High Street. “We went to get groceries and now we are just strolling though High Street. My children are excited about the new school term but they have everything on their booklist already.”

Daniella Norton, of Pleasantville, also echoed similar views saying she wanted to avoid shopping for books late.

“I just came to purchase a pair of shoes. I already purchased everything on my daughters booklists. I have seen few people with lists in their hands still shopping. If you can avoid the rush I think you should.

But there are other situations where mothers may not be able to avoid last minute shopping.”

Several bookstore owners in San Fernando also observed many of their customers started shopping for school supplies in August. “Some people started coming in with their booklists days after school closed,” a store owner said.