Yes, It Matters Where You Spend Your Money

This has been on my mind a lot lately with all that is going on in the world right now. Yes, it DOES matter where you spend your money, but maybe not in the way you think.

Being self employed myself, my heart is broken for all the businesses that won’t reopen after the need for social isolation is over. These small businesses are someone’s dream, and they often employ other people from the communities. These small businesses donate to sports teams and fundraisers. They are part of the fabric of our communities and without them, our neighborhoods would be very different.

Look Beyond Price

As a personal finance blogger and generally thrifty person, sometimes it’s hard to look beyond the price. I have been (and still am) guilty of shopping around before buying anything to look for the best price. Sadly, often the best price is a company like Amazon or Walmart.

Walmart and Amazon can offer super low prices because they are huge profitable corporations. Your local store has to sell the item for $5 to $10 more in order to make money at all.

I’ve decided that I am okay with paying a bit more to support our local businesses.

How You Can Support Local Businesses

Right now, if you can’t purchase from them, tell people about them! Share their stuff on Facebook, like their Instagram posts. Shout them from the rooftops if you’ve bought something from them that you love!

Referrals and word of mouth is a huge way that small businesses grow. It is so valuable for them.

Use Your Money To Vote For The Kind Of World You Want

You may have never thought of this, but the way you spend your money sends signals to companies about what’s important to you. If you always buy the item with the lowest price, then you are telling the world that you value cheaply made items, and it doesn’t matter where the item is sourced from or if the workers or makers are paid fairly.

By purchasing from companies that source materials ethically, you are voting for a world where people are paid fairly for their work, without harming the planet.

By purchasing from small local businesses you are supporting your local economy and voting for a world where billion dollar CEOs don’t get all the profits.

How To Decide What’s Important To You

I am a big advocate of value based spending, meaning spending money on things that add value to your life. To some people that’s takeout coffee and books, to some it’s eating out at restaurants, or maybe candles and bath bombs.I just want you to be conscious of your spending and how it affects the world around you.

You can still have all the things you love, but source them from different places. Get your coffee at a local shop instead of Starbucks, buy from a local bookstore, eat at local restaurants, buy local booze, and buy candles, bath bombs and art from local makers.

Lake City Cider, Dartmouth Nova Scotia

How My Spending Is Changing

When possible I will be looking for companies that are Canadian and/or Nova Scotian, source their products ethically and don’t test on animals. I also try to buy things second hand first, in order to reduce my carbon footprint.

I will no longer be supporting Amazon.

So while I may have to wait a little longer for my item to ship, and I may have to pay a little more, I’ll be buying from a real person. I will support someone’s dream.

I hope you will too.