101 Ways to Buy Local this Holiday Season

The economic well-being of every community is dependent upon one simple thing: cash. When people are getting paid, things work out. When they aren’t, communities decline. So what’s the easiest, fastest, and most efficient way to ensure that a community has money? Buy local.

Unfortunately, the American model of consumption puts price and convenience above all other considerations. This helps big box stores to dominate the landscape, which are not boons to the local economy, but rather massive money-extraction devices. By spending money with companies and on products that are not local to us, we send more of our dollars far away to pay for materials, factories, workers and executives who will gladly take our money, and spend it where THEY live. The U.S. trade deficit is over $40 billion!  That’s not sustainable.

It makes the hordes of Black Friday shoppers look like economic cannibals. So eager for “a good deal” they unwittingly kill local jobs in the process. Countless studies now support just how much a difference buying local can make. And no, buying at your local Walmart doesn’t count.

Yes, I know you can’t get a flat screen TV that was made down the street, but your region is chock-full of products, services and worthwhile experiences that are better because they ARE local. Local isn’t a compromise. It’s about loving where you live and acting like it.

If you’re inclined to try spending more of your money locally, but are at a loss of ideas, here are a few useful websites that can help you find businesses you probably didn’t even know about.

http://sustainableconnections.org/
http://www.buylocal.net/
http://www.localharvest.org/
http://www.eatwellguide.org/
http://www.heritagefoodsusa.com/

And here are a handful of suggestions to get you thinking. Some are fun, some are practical, some are downright kooky, but all will keep more of your money right nearby, where it belongs:

A selection of great locally-produced items:

1. Jewelry
2. Photography
3. Paintings
4. Pottery
5. Clothing
6. Turkey or ham
7. Baked goods
8. Honey
9. Maple Syrup
10. Jellies and jams
11. Local attraction guides
12. Beer
13. Wine
14. Christmas trees
15. Christmas wreaths
16. Dog and cat treats
17. Dog and cat accessories
18. Candles
19. Soap
20. In-name donation to local charity
21. Fudge and other sweets
22. Fresh-roasted coffee
23. Flower arrangements
24. Gift baskets
25. Cards and stationery
26. A farm share of seasonal produce
27. Christmas ornaments
28. Books from a local shop
29. Toys made by local craftsmen
30. Home decor
31. House plants
32. Hand bags
33. Hats
34. Local food specialties
35. Local coupon books
36. Local business gift cards  

Local services that make surprising gifts:

1. Car detailing
2. House cleaning
3. Dog and cat grooming
4. Dog walking
5. Poop scooping
6. Landscaping
7. Lawn mowing
8. House painting
9. Home repair
10. Babysitting
11. Gym membership
12. Oil change
13. Duct cleaning
14. Carpet cleaning
15. A pimped ride
16. Laser hair removal
17. Laser tattoo removal
18. Chiropractor visits
19. Furniture reupholstering
20. Dry cleaning or laundry service
21. Custom tailoring
22. Home energy audit
23. Errand running
24. High school kid doing odd jobs
25. Custom picture framing
26. Tree trimming
27. Home theatre installation
28. New sidewalk, driveway or patio
29. Family portrait
30. Personal organizer or assistant

Give a local experience:

1. Go out to eat, of course!
2. Theatre tickets
3. Sports tickets
4. Catch some live music
5. Museum membership
6. Manicure/pedicure
7. A day at the spa
8. Matching tattoos
9. Music lessons
10. Dance lessons
11. Deep tissue massage
12. Winery/brewery tours
13. Bowling party
14. Go cart racing
15. Indoor skydiving
16. Cooking class
17. Ski lift tickets
18. SCUBA certification
19. Martial arts classes
20. Sleigh ride
21. Ice skating
22. Horseback riding
23. Snowshoeing
24. See a roller derby match
25. Local hotel getaway
26. Guided fishing trip
27. Go out on the town in a limo
28. Visit a fortune teller
29. Painting classes
30. Visit a comedy club
31. Go gallery hopping
32. Host a bouncy-house party
33. Hire a clown
34. Hire a charicature artist
35. Have your holiday party catered

Who says you have to give things? Give some great memories instead. Stretch your imagination a little bit for a more memorable holiday season you can really feel good about!

Mike Sobol works for PassportGenius.com, a national passport and visa expediting service. The company issues sameday passport renewals, child passports and travel visas to any country in the world.