Have you heard of The 3/50 Project? Founded by Cinda Baxter in the spring of 2009, The 3/50 Project began as a blog article response to the bleak economic news being hurled at all of us by the media. The challenge Cinda proposes is that we consumers shop at three local businesses and spend $50 per month at these establishments. The challenge is not suggesting that we add an additional $50 of spending to our monthly budget but rather that we tweak our current spending habits by buying local.
Why should we do this? By supporting local businesses we grow and strengthen our local economy. These local shops pay property tax, provide jobs, and pay sales tax. Sure big chain stores and franchises pay taxes and may hire local folks but the bulk of the money you spend in that store leaves your town and ends up far away. According to The 3/50 Project site, “For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.” 
We are all busy and shopping online can seem like a convenience but there are tradeoffs to every shortcut. The obvious tradeoff is that you can’t see or touch the product you are buying and you must wait for it to arrive. If the product arrives damaged, it is extra time and a maybe a trip to the post office to wait even longer for your gift to arrive again.
Our budgets may be a bit tighter this year and online shopping it not always the best bargain when you factor in the shipping costs. And then there is some potential risk with scams and credit card theft, but let’s not even go there.
Think sustainable shopping this season. Sustain your local, independent business owners with the holiday gift of shopping in their stores. If you combine local shopping with the following ideas you will have “greened” up your holiday shopping.
- Save fuel by grabbing your friends, neighbors or family and piling into 1 car and heading to a town center where there are plenty of shops to choose.
- Bring your own bags…this should be rote by now.
- Avoid items that are disposable and have excessive packaging.
- Try giving an experience like museum, or special events tickets.
- Look at Freecycle for great kids gifts. www.freecycle.org
Happy holiday preparation! Remember, if you’re stressed, you have missed the point. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy each other. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. Be grateful.
For more information on The 3/50 Project go to http://www.the350project.net
