Despite shopping sales like this weekend's Columbus Day bargains, consumers are still wary about spending in a slumping economy.

Shoppers at North Hills in Raleigh said they find themselves coming to malls and shopping plazas less and instead try to find bargains elsewhere.

"I go to the dollar store a lot more and I see a lot of faces in the dollar store I hadn't been seeing in there," said Van Watkins of Raleigh.

Watkins, 70, said this economic situation is the worst he's ever seen.

"I don't ever remember anything like this," he said.

Other shoppers said they still manage to buy things as long as they are smart about it.

"Well maybe I don't need to buy two coffees. Maybe I don't need to stop and buy lunch when I did bring it to work," said Laura Dunston of Wake Forest.

Friends Angela Dove and Karen Hargrove said they work in a local spa, and business has suffered.

"People are just not shopping and not spending money," Hargrove said.

The two said they were shopping Friday but only looking for bargains.

"You see a lot of stuff that is pretty much going on sale real early, so you're trying to get it now while it's on sale," Dove said.