Lately, I’ve been focusing on buying local as much as possible. Being a freelance writer, I my budget has changed, and sometimes financial limitations determine my decisions. However, when the price is basically the same, I’m making a conscientious decision to buy items locally as much as possible.
Do I buy a book from an online retailer and have it shipped to me, or do I go to a local bookstore to buy it there? Do I buy a candle, soap, or lotion online, or do I look locally and possibly for a handmade product? If I’m clothes shopping, do I drive to another town, or do I begin at home? What constitutes “local” is entirely up to you whether it’s your town, county, group of counties, or state.
The answers are entirely up to the individual, but as I’ve been moving into a freelance career, I’ve started noticing local businesses, vendors, and opportunities more than before. Knowing how hard it is to get established, I’m picking local a bit more often than I used to. I can go to a local chain store and buy a candle from a giant manufacturer, or I can go to a local small business to buy a candle there. If I buy a product from a local small business, then I’m supporting someone who is trying to do the same thing as myself. They are trying to do something they love to support themselves. I appreciate that more now than before.
From my own experience, I know finances may dictate that we have to buy the most affordable products, but when it is financially possible, start to take a look around at what your local community offers. Are there opportunities in which you can skip buying a coffee at the large chain and purchase a coffee at a local shop? Is there a used bookstore in your area where you could purchase some “must-read” titles cheaper than from a chain retailer? When picking gifts for birthdays or holidays, are there boutiques where you could support local crafters and business owners while doing your shopping?
If you are working for yourself now, let that new experience guide you to help someone else who is running their own business. Buy the candle from the local candlemaker. Eat the homemade pie at the local mom-and-pop diner. Visit the new boutique and see what kind of products appeal to you. When you have a good experience, pass the word to other people and encourage them to visit the same places. Let the change in your experience encourage other people to try new local things as well.
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Inspirational Verse for the Day:
Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17, CSB)
All Things Subject to Change 