Free Ways to Support Your Local Economy

Supporting your local community is a positive thing—it builds relationships, strengthens the local economy, and it makes your neighbourhood a happier and healthier place. Money you spend in your community is recirculated in the local economy instead of being extracted from it. This translates into more local jobs, opportunities for local business owners and service providers, and more tax dollars that stay in the community. Supplementing your grocery shopping list with fresh farmers’ market finds, choosing independent cafés and restaurants over national chains, and purchasing art and gifts from local vendors are all simple ways to support your local economy.

But what if you do not have the extra cash to contribute to your favourite neighbourhood businesses? What if the bulk of your spending is already happening locally? Good news—there are a few creative ways that you can boost your local economy without spending a single cent.

Follow local businesses on social media and share their page with your family, friends and followers online. Consider posting a check-in status the next time you visit your favourite neighbourhood hangout and make a point of tagging local businesses in your snapshots. Show off the space by submitting your photos to an online review site. A positive endorsement can go a long way and it can take less than five minutes to write a thoughtful review. A little effort on your part can go a long way in making your local businesses more discoverable online.

Your presence can make a difference at community events—even if you do not spend any money. Public events often rely on sponsorships, and potential sponsors look at past attendance to gauge whether an opportunity is worth their investment. This means that you can support local events simply by showing up! By checking out a local festival, you boost the overall attendance numbers, which helps attract more sponsorship dollars in future years.

Your choice of financial institution can have a significant impact on your local economy. This tip is about where you keep your money and not where you spend it! As financial cooperatives, credit unions have community development built into their bottom line. Each credit union may embody the “Concern for the Community” principle in different ways (event sponsorships, scholarships and charity drives), but the underlying commitment to give back to the communities they serve is a constant.

Donate items you no longer need to a local charity thrift store. Keep your eye out for clothing or book drives in your neighbourhood. Check to see if any schools or organizations in your area hold multi-family yard sales and consider participating. Find out if there are any lending libraries nearby. Whether you ultimately decide to donate or sell your old stuff, keeping it in your community and out of the landfill contributes to the local economy.

Donating your time and sharing your expertise is an extremely valuable way to give back to your community. Reach out to your local library or community centre and see if there are any volunteer opportunities available. Alternatively, offer to lead a class or workshop in a topic you are knowledgeable about. Practical resumé-boosting topics—such as computer and smartphone skills—are often in high demand. By sharing your talents, you can contribute to others’ successes, which feeds back into the local economy.