Jackson Free Press

"How would you like to lose weight without even trying!? Call now for details! Want to earn more money while doing absolutely nothing extra? Check out this video that tells you how!"

We have all heard those ads and thought how stupid they sound. But, what if I told you there is something you can do that would put more money in your community? Something that would help your neighbors, your friends, your spouses in many cases, and your town and state, all without really changing your daily habits?

Well, there is! And you don't even have to call anyone or watch a video or give your credit-card number to me (although if you want to ...).

Shop local. Buy local. Support local. It's a refrain I have rolled my eyes at many times over the years but one that I trumpet now.

Being a local business is kind of like buying a white car. Suddenly, you see nothing but white cars. When you open a local joint, you realize how many of your neighbors, friends, colleagues, and loved ones work or own local businesses as opposed to corporate ones.

You also make the connection between choosing to eat at a local business and support that owner and those employees, versus spending your money with a corporate joint that may help the person who gets paid, but the rest of your hard-earned money goes off to who-knows-where.

You make the connection between buying a T-shirt designed and printed locally versus one off the shelf in a big-box store. Your food tastes better, your shirts last longer, your music sounds better.

I know all may sound self-serving—of course it is! I went into business to make money doing the things I love: baking and serving people.

I also love helping people, which in this case means telling you to buy local, shop local, support local. Pick up the phone now and call your favorite local business and place an order. Operators are standing by!