For many shoppers this holiday shopping season the question may be “cash or credit?”

Locally, the number seems to be split among those using cash and those using credit.

Flora Caplinger, who was shopping at JCP-enney, said she is using cash this season.

“For me, cash is easier to keep up with,” she said. “I do this every year.”

Tracy Worley said she’s using both credit and cash this season.

“It’s easier to use credit online,” she said. “But we use cash everywhere else, so we don’t have such as big debt afterward.”

With difficult economic times, many consumers are clawing their way out of credit debt and don’t want to slip deeper in the hole, while others are finally debt-free and will be leaving their cards at home to avoid overspending, according to America’s Research Group.

Having more people on her Christmas list this season, Lori Bailey has elected to use both cash and credit.

“I will do a little bit of both,” she said. “I’ve got a certain amount of cash and the rest will have to be credit. I normally do cash.”

Janie Bullard said she’s having to dabble in both, as well.

“I have a limitation as to how much I can spend, with the economy,” she said.

Candace Nelson said this year she’s resorting to credit purchases.

“With the economy, I need to use credit in order to pay off the purchases over time,” she said.

Laken Gunter said she’s using cash this year because of interest rates.

“I always use cash,” she said. “I feel like you have the money you don’t need to spend it.”

Jessica Wood agreed.

“Most of the time we use cash,” she said. “If we don’t have it we don’t spend it.”

Jackie Haskew said she typically uses cash for her holiday purchases, but this year the economy has changed that.

“I don’t want to, but I have no choice, my husband isn’t getting as much work,” she said. “The economy is bad. I can’t wait until 2012 to vote for president again. I’m disgusted by the way this country is being run. We need to hold our values.”