THINK THRICE BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR VALLET

Quite often people do long for something  made in a foreign land. Almost everyone wants to possess at least a key chain manufactured in  a foreign land. This craving  makes people to buy more and more the things which they need and want. Gandhism is possessing minimum things but maximum happiness and contentment.  I had just two sets of uniforms for my school and had not more than 3-4 pairs unfitting trousers  throughout my college days. Today each house has become a second hand textile shop and a middle class woman in India possesses simply 100 sarees. This glut for possession of materials is so intensive , especially after the economic reforms of 1991. The result is that most of our houses are occupied by automatic and semi automatic machines and cup boards and Almira overflowing with dress materials. The neo-rich's richness can be seen in any big shopping complexes as    the cunning shopkeeper asks the customer to choose the things himself. The result is that these people purchase things that are not so essential for them.  Many a time I watch the trolleys are full and overflowing along with the heart of the buyer.

What good does buying locally do?

 

• It stimulates the local economy. Studies  show  that for every 100 rupees  that was spent in a chain bookstore, only 13 rupees of it was put back into the local economy. But that same 100 Re. spent at a local, independently owned bookstore put 45 Re. back into the local economy. Think of that next time you're deciding to get your coffee from a large chain or the local corner coffee house.

• It helps locals keep their jobs. Most people who work in local businesses live locally. By buying from these places, you help your neighbors keep their jobs and that benefits your whole community.

• Local businesses give back locally. Do you know who sponsors the little known cricket or Kabaadi  teams in your town? By supporting these businesses, I help ensure that they can support the community.​

• It's good for the environment. Less auto emissions occur when you're going only a few blocks (you could even walk or ride your bike) for what you need vs. traveling miles away to a big box store. If enough people buy locally, it could actually prevent a big box store — which usually devours open space and requires new roads to be built — from infiltrating your community. 
  If you're buying locally grown food, it’s really good for the environment because you're helping the small farmers keep their farms operational instead of shutting down and selling to developers.

• It promotes a sense of community. If you want to get to know your neighbors and others in your community, supporting the local businesses is a great way to do that. Going into my local coffee shops is like walking into Cheers.