However, that is not to say that we do not have our share of ardent optimists. Shop owners say that children's stores are still attracting customers as people believe that at least children should not be robbed of their festivities. On occasions like Eid people prefer to dress young children, too, in traditional outfits; this year little girls can expect to wear eastern garb in all its glory especially since churri daars and peshwaazes are back in fashion.

Boys have the choice of dressing in either the subtly worked shalwar kameez or the overworked fancy stuff even in this time of turmoil.

Inflation along with the flood situation has left the most hardcore shopaholics feeling the pinch. People are trying to cut corners in an attempt to remain within their means. Women this scribe spoke to had suggestions on how we can cut cost this season and still be festive. They suggested embellishing their clothes with laces rather than going for embroidery or buying ready made embroidered kurtis that cost less but have the same effect.

Shops are flooded with ready made Anarkali style shirts that women are lapping up. Teamed with a simple churridaar and the less pricey khussas, the look is all the rage with most women these days. Silks are being shirked in favour of cotton and fancy lawn. Unstitched and embroidered suits are also being sought that range anywhere from Rs500 to 1,500. As Eid gift these are highly in demand.

Another suggestion was to use all those fancy sarees we have hoarded up in our closets to make fancy dresses like angarkha or peshwaaz. The borders can be used as edgings and the pallu can be used as a fantastic bodice. There is a dearth of anything new this year as no new style or material can be seen in the market, except for the large floral prints in demand, from cotton to lawn.

Mehndi and bangles seem to be the only luxury the demand for which has not gone down. Although the bangles available in the market are of a less fancy nature, women can be seen following the habit of taking their Eid clothes to the bangle store and matching their bangles precisely with the colours of their suit.

A large number of people have made it a tradition whereby each Ramazan they buy new household items — from crockery to decoration pieces to curtains and furniture — to replace their old ones. But this season people have either decided not to follow this tradition or are choosing China-made crockery and ready-to-hang curtains in order to be left with money they can donate. Furniture markets have been hit worse this year as very few new orders have been given and the furniture in the showrooms is not being sold as quickly as compared with last year.

Since it is the season to give and we are surrounded by people who need our help, consumers are spending their disposable incomes to give to those who have nothing to celebrate. Keeping to the spirit of simplicity most of us are sticking to the bare essentials this Eid. That is not to say we would not be giving ourselves a treat but we can be frugal and wise with each penny we spend. That might not immediately help our economy but in the long run it teaches us to be a better caring people.