Supporting your local economy

1. Dine locally. You have to eat near your home anyway, so you might as well make an effort to grab lunch and dinner at the locally owned and operated restaurants. Chains are great and might have a few deals that other spots can't offer, but the price difference isn't so drastic that you can justify only eating at the franchises. Every meal at a local restaurant pays not just waiters, chefs, and owners, but there's a good chance it supports local food growers as well. Speaking of, going to a local farmer's market or co-op for your groceries is another good way to keep your dollars close to home.

2. Service locally. If you have cable TV, there's a good chance you have internet services through the same provider. Getting that bundled almost always means going through a large telecom company, but it doesn't have to be that way. The small town internet provider isn't extinct yet, and you might be able to get really competitive rates by finding someone local. There are lots of options when it comes to services; have copies made at a local supply store, go see the mechanic who works out of his or her garage, pay someone to fix a broken TV instead of buying a new one, etc.

3. Bank locally. You might have to sacrifice a few conveniences if you close your checking account with one of the financial juggernauts, but putting your paychecks into a local credit union or savings bank is one of the best ways to shop locally without actually doing any shopping. Just by having a savings account with the brick-and-mortar bank down the street, you provide a financial boost for your community. It might not feel like shopping locally, but it has the same effect.