Think. Buy. Be. Local.

I keep bumping into that wonderful large retailer vs. small business debate. I'm a sucker for the bargain books at Chapters, though I would much sooner spend my money across the street at one of the small independents. I've come to the realization that with every dollar I spend, I am essentially voting for the businesses I like. I love my 'hood, and if I want to keep the shops around me alive, I'm gonna need to put my money were my mouth is.

So one of the running themes on the blog is going to be local business, and of course we are going to be doing a lot of talking about bookstores. Every Saturday we are going to feature a local business, a brief bio on the business and a little blurb about whats great about them.

So here is the deal... I'm on a "Shop Local" challenge. For the next three months all my extra curricular spending will be done in privately owned stores.... I haven't tried the 100 mile diet, but the 5 mile consumer is gonna be awesome!!

image via Green Upgrader