Holiday giving

People line up at the Toronto Premium Outlets mall on Black Friday for shopping sales, in Milton, Ont., Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. Experts say they expect big blowout sales and blockbuster one-day deals this Black Friday will draw consumers to stores in numbers not seen since pre-pandemic days.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

A muted Black Friday for Canadians amid inflation, online shopping and longer deals

Retailers have stretched deals over several weeks and offered similar discounts online

 

Shoppers looking for bargains enter an OshKosh children clothing store, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Miami, Fla. Bargain hunting is back with full force heading into the holidays. But inflation is limiting how much of a deal consumers will be getting. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Shoppers hunt for deals but inflation makes bargains elusive

‘Everything went up so my little nest egg disappeared a whole lot quicker than I expected’

 

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Ryan Gosling as Ken, left, and Margo Robbie as Barbie in the upcoming film "Barbie." (Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Think Barbiecore and all things pink for holiday gifts

Etsy saw a 34% increase in searches for hot pink fashion items over last year

 

This Sept 29, 2022 photo shows a set of handmade soy and beeswax candles in the shape of mountains by Cai Cai Handmade. (AP Photo/Leanne Italie)

From Wordle to sweets, holiday gift ideas for the grown-ups

Spoil the adult in your life by pleasing a child at heart this holiday season

This Sept 29, 2022 photo shows a set of handmade soy and beeswax candles in the shape of mountains by Cai Cai Handmade. (AP Photo/Leanne Italie)
People pass a large Christmas tree as they go shopping on Christmas Eve at a mall in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. A Retail Council of Canada survey says Canadians are planning to spend more this holiday season as they prepare to return to stores a year after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many to shop online. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Canadians to spend big on holidays, return to shopping malls, multiple surveys find

Accenture: Canadians will spend an average of $635 in 2021, an increase of more than 23 per cent

People pass a large Christmas tree as they go shopping on Christmas Eve at a mall in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. A Retail Council of Canada survey says Canadians are planning to spend more this holiday season as they prepare to return to stores a year after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many to shop online. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Parksville’s Christiana Conway, left, husband Chris Conway, right, and friend Elizabeth Doell write letters designed to bring Christmas cheer to senior residents at area care homes. (Submitted photo)

Vancouver Island woman helps create special messages of Christmas cheer for seniors

Hand-written letters designed to help lonely residents during holiday season

Parksville’s Christiana Conway, left, husband Chris Conway, right, and friend Elizabeth Doell write letters designed to bring Christmas cheer to senior residents at area care homes. (Submitted photo)
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Bad pipes, no money? Island company there to patch that leak

Saanich’s Rather Be Plumbing offering free service for those really in need ahead of Christmas

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