Shop small. Shop local. The gift that keeps giving.

My daughter wants a new plaid shirt for Christmas. I know I can get a deal on Amazon in just about any color, but our local Old Fashion Candy story sells these really cool branded shirts for much more than I'd pay on Amazon, but when I shop local I'm

• Supporting a local business owner,
• Employing someone in my community,
• Whose kids go to school in my community,
• Whose teachers live in my community,
• Pay rent and buy groceries in my community,
• Go the doctor, the dentist and the chiropractor in our community.

According to Shop Local Colorado, when you shop locally, 70% of your spending stays in the local economy. That means if you spend $100, your community keeps $70.

Sure, we're in a pandemic. It's easier to shop online. But if we're going to beat the COVID odds, it's time we vote with our pocketbook. Skip the big box stores, buy your holiday, birthday, graduation, gifts locally.

While you're at it, get something for yourself. I bought myself a new coffee mug (and my family wanted to kill me because we have so many) because I feel this tug on my heart at a time when so many are without jobs that it's my responsibility to pull more than my share of economic stimulus. A colleague of mine bought $1,000 in gift cards to support local restaurants, some to keep and some to give away! Another friend at work vowed to do 100% of her Christmas shopping in our small town. I just heard that a family from Texas is coming all the way to Colorado so they can do all their Christmas shopping in Estes Park.

Think small. What's one thing I can do today? Imagine if everyone makes one local purchase a day. Today's a great day to start.