AUGUSTA -- There is turmoil on Wall Street. A winter's worth of heating costs are looming.

So are local residents changing their shopping habits in response to the financial crisis?

Rich and Sue Gagne, of Augusta, said they're cutting back as much as they can.

"We go shopping less," Rich Gagne said before going into Wal-Mart with his wife. "We make it part of our daily thing -- get groceries when you're already out, when you're coming home from work, things like that. We try to buy stuff on sale, less name brands, and buy only what we need. The price of oil is down, so that's good. But the stock market is not doing well. So, maybe it's easier to buy gas, but now you don't have any money for groceries."

Sue Gagne said the couple, who almost always go shopping together, is "watching our spending more."

Carol Konieczko, of Augusta, bought children's summer clothing for her grandchildren Sunday.

"This is how I shop. I shop off-season, when things are cheaper," Konieczko said, showing the items in her small Kohl's bag. "I haven't really changed. Because I've always tried to be a careful shopper. I've always been a thrifty shopper. I use coupons. I shop sales. We recycle, we turn the thermostat down -- just try to do the things a responsible citizen should do. If everyone shopped like me, there wouldn't be a credit crisis."

Stacie Adams, of Belgrade, was at Wal-Mart to get some items to help do a makeover of her young son's bedroom for his birthday.

She said her family tried to save gas by making fewer trips, and takes other steps to save money while shopping.

"We try not to make as many trips out," she said. "My husband and I, we try to do our grocery shopping on the way home. So we don't have to make a trip on the weekend. We bargain shop. We cut coupons."

Larry Vinal, of Augusta, said he's cutting back on luxury items and buying in bulk.

"We have (changed our shopping habits)," he said. "Probably the biggest change is we try to buy in bulk, and save money that way. And we try other ways to economize. We don't get as many luxury items as we might. We're not getting much lobster."

Brian MacDonald, of Augusta, was at Wal-Mart looking for hunting supplies. He changed from oil to electric heat to save money. He said his shopping habits are "still about the same."

Vince Hysan, of Manchester, was out with his two dogs, buying barbell weights at Dick's Sporting Goods.

The electrician, whose wife works for the state, said they haven't really changed their shopping habits.

"No, I haven't," he said. "I think (the financial crisis) is overrated. I know she (his wife) sure hasn't changed her shopping habits. She goes out shopping every weekend."

Brenda Kaler, of Augusta, said she's changed her shopping habits a little bit in response to the financial crisis.

"I think I'm making more things for the whole week, preparing more, freezing more," she said in the parking lot of Shaw's supermarket. "Just making sure there is very little waste. I buy hardly any clothes at all. Only the necessities. I've cut back on Christmas shopping. Everybody has. With the price of heating oil, we're just being very cautious."

Beth Witham, of Livermore Falls, bought a shop broom and chimney sweep kit at The Home Depot.

She's taking a more active "do-it-yourself" approach.

"Yes, we're buying pellet stoves, we're lining our chimney, we're doing things on our own to save money," she said. "We didn't buy some stuff we wanted today -- we just priced it out for now, because we can't afford it yet."

Aaron Studholme and Sheena Hanson, of South China, made a stop at Wal-Mart, on their way to get groceries at Shaws, Hanson said.

"I don't think we have" changed shopping habits, Studholme said. "Not really."

George George, of Stockton Springs, stopped at Wal-Mart while returning home from the Fryeburg Fair.

He didn't buy much at the fair, and didn't plan to buy much in the store, either. "We're here just to get some essentials," he said. "Yeah, we've cut back a bit. But we value shop to begin with, so that's about the same. We cut back on the extras. If it gets much worse, we'll have to cut back more."