Buy Local & Act Local This Christmas

If you're like me and planning to spend your Christmas bonus on home repairs and upgrades, you may be looking for some additional ideas to stretch your wallet without compromising the holiday season enjoyment of giving.

Luckily, when it comes to thinking and acting local, we're not just limited to our holiday dinner tables.

Here's what I mean:


Shop within your network. Amongst your friends and co-workers, you may be surprised by the number of "entrepreneurs" - from Mary Kay to Pampered Chef, Stampin' Up to Creative Memories, home pastry chefs to jewellery makers. You'll keep your hard earned cash not only within the local economy, but in the pockets of the people you know best. Plus - the guarantee is usually second to none!


Buying wine? Buy VQA! The Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) label guarantees the wine is 100% grown and produced in Ontario. An imported wine purchase puts $0.67 back into the local economy versus $11.50 from a VQA wine purchase. What better reason do you need?


The Giving Tree. Before you head to Wal-Mart for your Christmas tree, check around to see if you can support a local charity with your tree purchase. Often local service clubs or youth groups, like the Scouts, sell Christmas trees as a fundraiser.



Act local! Not sure what you will do with another gift basket from the $10 special bin? Skip the gift exchange and spend the afternoon volunteering together as a family at a local soup kitchen, helping the food bank prepare baskets, or carolling at a local hospital or seniors home.