Shoppers navigate packed malls for final festive buys, balancing the thrill of discounts against the stress of limited stock and crowds.

PETALING JAYA: With Hari Raya Aidilfitri fast approaching, many shoppers are making their final preparations and for some, the rush of last-minute buying has become part of the festive experience.

For 26-year-old Nur Alis Azreena, who works in internal communications, shopping close to the celebration is a familiar routine, even if it means navigating packed malls and limited options.

“I usually take quite a long time to decide on the colour, design and brand for my baju kurung and decorations so I end up shopping at the last minute.”

She said despite the hectic atmosphere, she enjoys the excitement that comes with the festive rush.

“I like the feeling of rushing and seeing crowded places with people doing their shopping.”

However, leaving purchases until the last minute has its challenges.

She said some items she wanted were already sold out, forcing her to look for alternatives, while crowded shopping centres mean competing with other shoppers for the last items on the shelves.

Still, Nur Alis expressed belief that there are advantages to waiting.

“Sometimes prices could be discounted by more than 30%,” she said, adding that she has spent more than RM1,000 so far on her Raya preparations, mainly for family gatherings.

She advised fellow last-minute shoppers to remain calm and flexible.

“Try to stay patient with the crowds and always have a backup option in case the items you want are sold out.”

Meanwhile, administrative executive Jamal Haziq Mohd Zain, 30, took a different approach this year and completed his shopping early due to work commitments.

“Normally, I would shop last minute because that’s when you could get better deals and discounted prices.”

He added that rising prices are something many shoppers expect as the festive season approaches.

“Prices always seem to go up closer to Raya, and this year is no exception.”

He also said while he usually keeps his spending on clothing below RM150, some festive outfits could cost as much as RM500, a price he feels is excessive.

Although he did not shop last minute this year, he acknowledged that late shoppers could sometimes find significant bargains.

“Sometimes you could get discounts of up to 50% for the same items that were expensive earlier,” he said, adding that such deals often come with crowded malls and bazaars as many shoppers adopt the same strategy.

For Irdina Mohd Ali, 27, preparing early helps her avoid the last-minute crowds that typically fill shopping centres.

“I usually prepare everything before Ramadan because I prefer to avoid the last-minute Raya crowds.”

However, she admitted that her shopping habits vary depending on the item.

“For baju raya, I tend to buy them early as I’m worried my size might run out.

“But for accessories such as shawls or kerongsang, I usually purchase them closer to Raya since they are less important.”

She added that prices often drop as the festive season draws nearer, as some traders try to clear remaining stock.

“There are often attractive deals closer to Raya, but the downside is that sizes and designs may be limited.”

She typically allocates about RM400 to RM450 for shopping, but admitted that new collections released towards the end of Ramadan could be tempting.

“Occasionally I do feel (like I’m missing out), but I remind myself that I don’t really need it.”

Still, she said enjoys going out during the festive shopping period.

“Even if I don’t buy anything, I like doing a bit of window shopping to experience the Raya atmosphere. It only comes once a year.”

 The Sun Malaysia