by Chef Eric J. Means

Created on: February 22, 2009

You can help to improve your local economy. There are several ways you can do this and not spend much money. First you have to realize that we the consumer have the control over our spending and only we can decide how and when to start supporting our local economies. There is a direct effect from spending your money locally, which can make all the difference. Many of our own jobs depend on it.

I know that times are hard for everybody but we the consumer need to take a step forward and own some of the responsibility. We can help. I am not asking you to go out and splurge or go on a rampant shopping spree. I am asking you to go out and spend wisely. Choose to shop for your necessary goods and services locally. Look at your shopping list and try to find locally owned purveyors and service providers. You can do this by talking with neighbors, online searches and the good old-fashioned phone book.

You may find slightly higher prices at independent stores; this is because they cannot afford to buy in bulk like the large box stores. By spending a little, more for your product you are helping to keep the doors open and provide members of your community with gainful employment. What length would you go to ensure you could keep your job? Keep this simple question in mind as you shop it may come down to your job. Being socially responsible is not always easy but in this case, it is.

Do not forget to give you and your family small rewards. Do go out and get a meal together. Go out to a restaurant for lunch instead of dinner this will cost you less money and you are still treating yourselves. Rent a movie rather than go to the theatre choose a local rental store and help to keep them in business. If clothing is to expensive try second hand stores such as ARC, Goodwill etcYou can procure lightly used brand name clothing for pennies on the dollar. The days of buying what you want when you want are gone. We need to get real and working towards a solution.

When you spend your money locally that money is pumped directly back into your local economy, in the form of wages, taxes, overhead, purveyors, and services. When tax revenues drop services such as road repair, education, emergency services suffer. It is our duty to ensure that this does not happen in our communities. Be proactive. Get out and become a part of your community. Protect it for a future generation. Our children are depending on us. It is our choice. I for one will not depend upon the government to fix the problem I will get out and get to it. The more time we waste the deeper the hole will become. You can make a difference, because you have the power to do so. Stop being fearful and take the next step.

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