Spend Smart

If you’re spending literally any amount of time on the internet right now, you’re well aware of how hard this year has been on everyone, well, almost everyone (looking at you Jeff Bezos). I don’t want to talk trash about Amazon because I, like many people, always seem to end up with their boxes on my porch. Also, if you know me, like even just a little bit, you know that I have two happy places, 1) Target and 2) the children’s section at Barnes & Nobel.

Shopping in places like these simplifies things. Big box stores streamline shopping for your convenience, but they’re not as helpful in terms of giving back to your own community. This year has helped all of us think beyond ourselves. Every step of the way, we’ve been asked to make choices based on the impact we can have on other people. This holiday season shouldn’t be any different. When you’re making decisions about where to buy gifts, where to spend your money and who you’re posting about on social media, keep it small.

There are so many fabulous small businesses to support where I live in Evansville, Ind. When shopping in person, I always love wondering down Franklin Street and hopping into one of the shops there. You can find literally anything you need in terms of buying gifts including kid’s clothes, toys, women’s clothes, accessories, men’s items and cooking supplies. It really is gift-buying magic on that street. Stop and grab a coffee at a locally owned coffee shop. Stop for lunch and a drink at one of the many bars or restaurants.

If you’re like me and trying to do most of your shopping online, I have GOOD NEWS. All of these places have websites or offer curbside pickup. My absolute favorite place to shop for my kids is Wild Child Boutique. For my own shopping pleasure I enjoy going to Opie and Eleanore’s and Monark Designs.

If the west side isn’t your scene, some of my other favorite small shops are located downtown. Main Street is lined with locally owned restaurants and shops. River City Coffee and Goods and Outside the Gift Box are the perfect stops for gifts, especially if you’re looking to support local artists. Posh on Main has cute clothes for both women and children, along with home decor.

I could go on and on about all of the amazing locally owned businesses that deserve our support. They bring life to the cities and towns we call home. Big business is easy, but shopping small is the pulse of our local economy. They’re the supporters of the events we so desperately miss going to. They’re the sponsors for our kids’ sports teams. They’re the gathering places for our social lives, which we will have again one day.

Things are hard right now. We’re staying home and seeing less people. We’re making a conscious effort to minimize our contact with the outside world. However, supporting these local businesses now ensures they’re still there for us to enjoy when we can spend hours wondering down streets and perusing through stores without worry.

If money is tight for you (like it is for a lot of us right now), there are other ways you can help support these businesses. Share their posts on social media. Tag them in posts anytime you are wearing something from one of their stores (or a decoration is clearly seen in the background). Liking and commenting on their posts helps ensure it is seen by more people. The more “action” a post gets the more it circulates, so be sure to be active on their posts.

Right now, even doing less can be doing more. Spread love and do good things.

I’ll be tagging my favorite small businesses on my social media. Be sure to tag yours too!