Let us establish one thing right of the mark, when you shop in most stores, they have three ways of loosing your money. First off your money goes somewhere else to pay for the goods you were just sold. Made in China, means some of your money goes to China, Made in India, means some goes there, Made in Peru, same deal. The other way they lose your money, is that if they are a chain, they have to pay head offices. Thus, the money leaves your community forever. If they are in a mall, who owns the mall? Is it a local individual or big corporate giant? Who gets the rent?
Below, I have listed some ways to help the money stay local, either in your community, in your country, or in your pocket. Some have small portions of money that may leave, but overall are sounder for protecting the economy than buying foreign made goods in a chain store owned by a foreign company.
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I realize you may not be an American, I know I am not, but this is one of the most recognized monetary notes there is. Rest assured, it is YOUR local economy I am referring to in this article, not the USA economy.
Shop at local Farmers Markets.
You can buy most anything, from vegetables to fruit, to home baked pies or sweaters. When you shop at farmers markets you put the money directly into the hands of another local individual. Hopefully they will spend it locally as well, and in turn it will keep the local economy strong. Buy from Consignment stores.
There are many different kinds of consignment stores. Some consign clothing, others may sell local arts and crafts. Generally the owners and consignors are local thus keeping the profits close to home. The only disadvantage to this is that the products used to make any craft items may be bought elsewhere, so some of the money did not stay local. Eat out at independent restaurants (not chains).
Near where I live there is a terrific local restaurant, entirely independent, and they buy as much local produce as they can for use in their restaurant. Not only is this good for the local economy, it is also brilliant environmentally. Tip your waitress and that helps too. Grow your own food.
Realistically you wont be able to grow all the food you need, but if you can grow some it helps you keep your money for other things. Beating a recession is in part saving, and in part spending. When too many people stop spending we have a problem, so by saving on food, you can spend on other things. With the exception of food bought at farmers markets, much of the food sold in grocery stores comes from far away, by growing some of your own, you are not sending your money far away to get more for next time, you are keeping it at home (or in the local economy), where it is needed most. Raise Chickens.
Not hundreds of them, but perhaps two or three, or like me, four. I do not eat them, but I do eat their eggs. I get more eggs than I need, and I sell those really cheap. $1 a dozen. The chicken feed costs so little and they benefit me by eating bugs, and looking cute. Not everybody can keep hens (you don't want or need a rooster) but if you can, it is worth considering. You have helped the economy because you are making local money, and reducing the need to buy at a grocery store. Buying free range eggs from a local individual is the next best thing to producing your own. Buy goods made in your own country.
If you are buying "NEW" then buying things made in other countries is like sending half your money to that country, because theoretically the store will buy another to replace it for resale. Depending how the store marks up their items and if a middle man (wholesaler) were involved, a good chunk of your money is now gone from the local economy. If an item is made in your own country, the money leaves the small local economy but at least it stays in your country. Shop at local independent stores (not chains).
Why put money into massive head offices of corporations or giant chains? Why make the rich richer? Are they going to include you in their Will? I doubt it. Independent stores spend their profits locally, hopefully. Support local service industries.
Like I said earlier, tip your waitress, dog groomer, cabbie, or hairdresser. Local servers taking your money means some of that will remain local, and will come back to you eventually. Help the economy by helping others to get by too. Shop at garage sales.
Super good way of finding unique items. You can easily by products made in other countries totally guilt free when you shop at garage sales. The seller hopefully will embrace the ideas mentioned here and keep the money local too. Of course if it is a sale because they are moving out of the country, well the money is gone too, but that is not often the case. In places that allow it, return pop bottles for refunds.
I saved the simplest for last. Some areas allow you to return empty pop and beer bottles for a cash refund. This is a great way to make money from something that is otherwise considered garbage. If you make money, you have more to spend. Spending money (locally) is the best way to boost the economy, right?
