Are the Holidays Cancelled for 2020?
Words by Kylie Fletchman
Cover photo Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko from Unsplash
Akira Hamilton, a City College graduate, is looking forward to the upcoming holidays, not with joy but worry as the coronavirus pandemic drags on. She had a medical emergency in September that required surgery--which meant taking off from her job as an admin at a doctor’s office, to recover. “I will be out from work for a month and a week,” says Hamilton, who also worries about her and her family being exposed to covid-19 during her stay. “Hopefully, I still have my job after.”
As the holidays approach, people like Hamilton are wondering how they're going to afford gifts this year, as well as how to shop this year and stay safe. Shoppers have to suit up with masks, face shields, and gloves just to make a trip to Target if they have enough extra money to shop at all. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, “12.6 million people were unemployed” in September. Many Americans are still waiting to hear about a possible second stimulus disbursement, which creates anxiety and stress about finances.
Young people especially have to be strategic with their spending due to the pandemic. Hamilton and her family are getting the same pay but work more hours now. “We spend more money on cleaning supplies and groceries now,” says Hamilton. “I notice there are less sales for household items so we have to be more mindful of how much product we use.”
Students have it especially tough. D-Amini Graham, a senior at SUNY New Paltz, says she feels fortunate to still have her job working on campus. “Yes, I’m employed,” Graham confirms, “Thankfully, I don’t know anyone who lost their job due to the pandemic.”
Graham considers herself “an in-person shopper” and likes to explore a variety of options on her mall trips. She feels that she gets better deals when she shops in stores, but more recently she’s had to shift to digital shopping. “Let’s get into how expensive shipping and tax is!” says Graham. “Sadly, the pandemic has made me buy more things online.”
City College senior Mesidi Agbenu isn’t working and worries about how much she’s going to spend this season. “I normally shop for my immediate family and close friends,” says Agbenu, who describes her situation as “furloughed until further notice.”
“I may not have enough money to do some of the things I would normally do during this time of the year,” she says.
As she finishes her last semester of college and the holidays loom, Graham is anxious to see how the rest of 2020 unfolds. “My concern is having enough money for myself and for buying quality gifts,” she says. “There’s also the worry that things may get shut down again.”
