What are three local businesses you would hate to lose from your community? Got them in your mind? Great. Okay, now commit to spending $50 amoung those three places each month. Ta-da!! You’re saving your local economy!

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It is, and all it takes is you.

A growing movement called the 3/50 project is making it even easier for residents to help their communities and invest in local economies. Not only does this movement provide a reminder that local stores offer local benefits (e.g. unique products, services and donations to local charities, schools, and sports clubs), research shows that dollars spent at home, tend to stay at home.

The tension for residents today is the reality of the economy vs. the need to support local businesses.

On the one hand, people are concerned about continuing to have a job and being able to pay the mortgage. On the the other hand, virtually everyone spends $150 on some combination of goods and services.

The question is, where can you spend those dollars so that they will have the most impact? I’d answer that you should choose to spend your money in those places that you would hate to see disappear, or they may.