Irene Nevins
You hear it all the time. Shop Local. Have you given it much thought?
Some time during your life you have probably toyed with the idea of starting your own business. Be your own boss. The thought of working when you want, doing things your way and pocketing all the money is very appealing. However, that’s not how it works.
Working for yourself is the hardest job you will ever have.
It takes a special mindset to pass up the steady paycheck and opt into investing your own time and money building your own business to the point of finally paying you back for all your blood, sweat, tears and money. It is a battle with more downs than ups most of the time.
Your family member, friend, neighbor are working doubly hard to make a go of their own business. They need your patronage to make it work.
They are already vested in rent or mortgage for their operation. Then comes insurances, licenses, inspections and taxes. Next comes equipment and stock, maybe employees.
Shop Local
When you patronize your local businesses, you keep the money local. You keep the taxes local. You keep a healthy local economy. You keep local jobs. Not all business operators will become rich by any means but they may be able to put food on their tables and care for their families comfortably. That makes for a rich neighborhood.
Be Vocal
Once you get the hang of shopping local, spread the word. Be vocal. Let others know about the deal you got on back to school clothes, the tasty fresh fruits and veggies from Farmer Joe, the perfect life insurance policy from neighbor Fred. Not only will you be helping local businesses, you’ll be helping your community all around.
* Photo was taken by me.
Very wise thoughts about this topic. I use to want to have my own business, but then I thought about it longer, and thought it would be more of a headache that way.
That is one of the ways that our church tries to uplift our community. It isn’t just the food bank, clothing bank, soup kitchen, etc, they also encourage people to buy locally. In fact, the church also has charge accounts at several local businesses, thus doing the same thing they suggest to members of the congregation. This is a small community; less than 1,000 in the entire valley, and this is also the poorest county in the state, so the more money people use to buy locally, the more it helps the whole valley.
That is wonderful, Rex. Churches used to be the center of communities, bringing everyone together. Now when they are needed most for faith and guidance, too much attention is placed on attaining funds.
Money that comes into our church goes right back out into the community. When I work on the grounds at church and need supplies, I buy them locally, for example. Our church is known, nationwide, for the outreach ministries. I’m not saying that in a bragging way, but to say that this is what the Bible teaches. We help people regardless of their religion, social standing, race, gender, age, political beliefs or any of the other things that only serve to divide and not to unite. People think it is strange that we don’t even ask what a person’s religion is before helping them, but Jesus didn’t, either. We also don’t preach to those we help but show by example what can happen when people come together to help one another.
That’s good