I realized this weekend, while dining in Duvall for breakfast Saturday morning, that my original blog on Buying Local was not just a singular post, but Part One in a series, since I have a lot more to say (enter sarcastic Husband comment “What, you? You never have more to say!”).
If you read Part One of Buying Local, It’s Not Just for Produce Anymore, the focus was on the concept of funneling your money into places that make the most impact for those around you, and it highlighted the 3/50 Project. Saturday morning, while dining with my family and friends over a yummy breakfast at the Grill with locally sourced bacon, produce and other ingredients, we were discussing the price of buying local, and it hit me what a conscious effort it is to make the choice to do it!
I know many of us are ingrained with the “simple, fast, easy and cheap” mentality. It is our culture. So I ask you, this week, next week, or sometime very soon, to stop the madness, the hustle, the bustle, and think, with the most conscientious effort possible, about a purchase you need to make and how you can funnel the money you intend to use on that purchase for the greater good to someone or something around you.
When making this decision you will say to yourself things like “so why do I really want to spend a little more money when I could get it cheaper at this giant super-store,” or “gosh, do I really want to park the car and make the extra stop to get one or two special things at this little shop here or there,” and I tell you, the answer is YES! Why is it yes? Read Part One!
If you had to spend $20 to buy an item down the street (that small store doesn’t have the buying power the big one does!), or $10 to drive 30 minutes one way to buy it, why is it that many, if not most of us, will take that drive? If you tack on $3-$6 dollars in gas, plus your valuable time (how much money do you make an hour?), then the $20 purchase wins.
Yes, you have to change your way of thinking, and yes, I am still learning to do this too. If you have to pick and choose due to numerous circumstances that might be going on in your life, try to choose 3 times per month that you make this effort to pay a little more, or search a little harder for that little treasure or gift that you could find in a cute little store that you have never set foot in yet. It might be cheaper and more rewarding than you think!
And, yes, there will be a Part Three… because I already know what it is going to be about. Stay tuned.
This is very similar to something i wrote recently although I didn’t go into as much detail~ http://425talker.blogspot.com/2009/03/keep-home-fires-burning.html
Buying local is a gift to pass to our children. I love that my kids are already mentioning (at the ages of 2 & 5) the places we should go to get birthday presents for friends/family right here in town. My son will also tell you that Duvall Books is his favorite bookstore EVER. If we treasure our community, it is up to us to support it so it can thrive. Nice post!
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