• "Where can I get the best deal?"
• "Where's the closest store?"
•  "Is that the right brand?"  

Not that there is anything wrong with these questions, but sometimes we don't think about the fact that buying local can very often have so many benefits that some or all of those questions may not matter any more. Today lets talk about three of the many benefits of buying local.

1.) Reducing fuel consumption worldwide.

When we buy our products and services locally, this reduces the demand for these things from the national and global competitors we are accustomed to buying from. If enough people will buy from local farmers and merchants then maybe we can help stop the absurd practice of shipping items across the country or world for that matter that we already have right here in our own backyards. Not only would this help lower the fuel prices as the demand for it receded, but it would also lower the amount of emissions that the trucks and trains are unnecessarily putting in the air via pointless trips to bring us items we already have.

2.) Increasing the stability and growth of our local economy.

Supporting our own friends and neighbors is one of the best benefits to this old, simple, yet very intelligent and practical system of economics. If we are buying as much as we can locally all that money is going right back into help ourselves as well as the rest of our community live a better life. It helps to bring growth to local residents businesses that will reinvest in our local areas instead of make the CEO of some nation or worldwide corporation filthy rich so that they can buy yet another house or car to add to their collection. In turn if our local business are supported properly instead of losing business to larger stores, they will be able to help us out by keeping their prices low, and then we will have more money to help with the continued growth of our local economy so we can provide a wonderful environment for our families.

3.) Improving our personal health and well being.

Many times quality goes right along with local business. This is especially true with food. We are in a time now when many are going back to the old times where we want fresh and/or organic food, instead of processed food that is loaded up with preservatives. Well these are things we can find from our local farmers and dairies. While many of the nation chains are marketing that they have these products, with some inspection I am sure you will agree the same quality is simply not there. So you get to support your local community and improve your health at the same time. Isn't that great?

Well as there are still many more benefits to buying local I think most would agree that these three alone are more than enough reason. So would you join me in helping our local communities, our country, our world, and ourselves, simply by buying things that are made, grown, produced, raised, etc. locally. We need to start helping ourselves instead of complaining that everyone else is doing everything wrong. So lets get out there and support our communities.