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Buying locally is not only beneficial for local business owners, but buying locally benefits consumers and members of the community in a number of ways.

• Buying locally creates jobs in your community, potentially creating a job for you or a friend or family member.

• Buying locally helps the environment. Buying within your community reduces the amount of fuel you're likely to use for a weekend shopping trip while also reducing pollution. In addition, many local store owners use local materials and ingredients, reducing the amount of fuel consumed to get products into the store.

• Buying locally is an opportunity to strengthen a bond with your neighbors, creating a close knit community in which residents may feel safer and more comfortable.

• Buying locally is more convenient. Driving to a faraway mall or shopping center or paying costly online shipping fees is not nearly as quick or convenient as shopping within your community, where you can purchase and take home items on the same day without using a full tank of gas or paying for shipping.

• Buying locally benefits your local economy. In 2004, the consultancy Civic Economics was commissioned by Chicago's Andersonville Chamber of Commerce to examine the economic impact of 10 local businesses against that of chain businesses. The study found that of every $100 spent at local businesses, $68 remained in the local economy, while only $43 of every $100 spent at chain stores remained in the local economy. That's a significant boost to your local economy, and all it requires is shopping at local retailers.

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