ORLANDO, Fla. – While many Central Florida residents spent Thanksgiving at home, a steady stream of early-bird shoppers fanned out to local stores in search of holiday bargains.

Not much was open, but one store in particular was packed, Orlando’s newly opened H Mart .

It is the busiest shopping season of the year, and some consumers decided to get an early start on gift buying despite complaints about rising prices and other economic pressures.

“It’s packed with people,” one shopper observed as crowds filled H Mart on West Colonial. From skincare and toys to groceries, the store saw a steady stream of traffic.

[WATCH: Florida’s first H Mart opens in Orlando]

Darlene Hightoff, who said she was buying a small toy for her granddaughter, acknowledged that money does not stretch as far

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