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8 Money-Saving Tips to Support Local Economy Buy Locally to Save Money and Support Neighborhood
Businesses The
economy has people worried, but there are simple steps everyone can take in their own community to save money on gas, food,
and more while helping others do the same. Feeling the need to tighten belts against the economic downturn? Despite predictions of gloom and doom, there are
ways to gather local support and help oneself and others through tough times. With every eye on the economy, it's never
been easier to save money on gas, food, childcare and more by pooling resources and buying within the neighborhood to support
local economy. Local economy means the people closest to you geographically – immediate family, neighbours,
nearby businesses, and anyone else who contributes to the economy in a neighborhood. Supporting local economy means choosing
local retailers over superstores. It also means people supporting other people through systems like barter, carpooling, sharing
childcare, and more. Buy Locally Grown Food One of the best ways to save money on food is
to grow produce in a home or neighborhood garden. If that's not possible, try farmer's markets or stores that sell
locally grown produce, meat and poultry. Organic local food is best, of course, because it supports local farmers
and prevents the spread of pesticides and other chemicals into the environment – but if organic is beyond your budget,
local produce alone is certainly a help to farmers near you, and will save money on gas and transportation to get fruits
and vegetables to stores. Buy Fresh Rather Than Packaged Foods to Save Health, Gas and Money
Packaged, processed foods not only cost more – they're bad for health. Cut refined, sugary, preservative-laden
foods like packaged cereals, boxed cookies, store bought muffins, and other unnecessary items and make them fresh at home
for half the cost and with healthier ingredients. Save Money by Carpooling with
Coworkers It's a tried and true solution to a tight budget: find out if people at work (or school) live nearby
and arrange to carpool, saving gas costs and daily wear and tear on cars. It's a relaxing way to save money and get
to work on time. Create a Neighborhood Childcare Pool Daycare and babysitters are expensive,
so many parents are turning to local childcare pools to help save money. All it takes is two or more families willing to
take turns caring for everyone's children. As a bonus, there's a synergy in community childcare that can benefit
kids who might be overlooked or bullied in normal daycares. Barter For What You Need Barter
has a long tradition – older than money – that's still going strong today. Sites like Craigslist or community
message boards are a great way to learn more about local barter economy – or find out if a local tradesperson is willing
to exchange goods or services. It's impossible to know what someone might happily accept until you offer! Organize
Potlucks with Friends and Family Rather than eating out, try to arrange potluck meals with coworkers, friends and
relatives. Potlucks are a perfect way to save money, learn new recipes and food traditions, and socialize at home in a warm,
friendly environment. Support Local Businesses It might seem easier to run out to the supermarket
or order items online– but think about the impact before choosing national or international businesses over local
retailers. Small businesses give back to the community in wages, municipal taxes and purchases from other neighborhood businesses.
During an economic downturn, buying goods from neighborhood businesses supports the entire community. Rent
Out a Room Renting out a room at home isn't for everyone – but it does bring in a few extra dollars and
might enable someone with a lower income, like a student, or fallen on hard times to put a roof over their head. It's
also possible to offer a room to a self-employed or small business owner as an office, studio, or other workspace. Resources - LocalEconomy.ca, "What is a local economy?" LocalEconomy.ca, 2008.
- van
Gelder, Sarah, "31 Ways to Jump Start the Local Economy," YesMagazine.org, Summer 2009.
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MICHIGAN FIRST
If
we all spent $10 a week on Michigan products, we could put $36 million every week back into the state's economy. There are a lot of Michigan
owned grocery
stores that are supporting other Michigan businesses on
their shelves. Spartan
stores are a cooperative; this means that if you buy a
Michigan made product from a Spartan affiliated grocery store, you are getting a 'triple dip.' The product is made
in Michigan, the grocery store is independently owned by a Michigan family, and Spartan Stores headquarters is located
in Grand Rapids.
Other independently owned stores are a 'double dip'.
This includes stores like Randazzo's and Westborn markets. Meijer is
based in Grand Rapids, so also counts as a double dip.
If you think this idea is a good one, and you have friends and family throughout the state who might help out, please
forward this as an email with the list attached. $36 Million per week could go a long way! And let's not forget the many Farmers' Markets in
the state that offer the best and most fresh produce available in season. These are open generally May through November. Use this
link for the list of Michigan made products.
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POVERTY IN AMERICA Living Wage Calculator
Introduction to the Living Wage Calculator
In many American communities, families working in low-wage
jobs make insufficient income to live locally given the local cost of living. Recently, in a number of
high-cost communities, community organizers and citizens have successfully argued that the prevailing wage offered
by the public sector and key businesses should reflect a wage rate required to meet minimum standards
of living. Therefore we have developed a living wage calculator to estimate the cost of living in your community
or region. The calculator lists typical expenses, the living wage and typical wages for the selected location.
Select a Location To get
started, enter a location into the search box above, or browse to a location using the list below. MICHIGAN __________________________________________ Dear Fellow Owner,
You and your family are richer than you think. Here’s
why: All Americans are joint owners of a trove of
hidden assets. These assets — natural gifts like air and water, and social creations like science and the Internet —
constitute our shared inheritance. They’re vital to our lives and make our economy run. Though it’s impossible
to put a precise value on them, it’s safe to say they’re worth trillions of dollars.
The trouble is, our
shared inheritance is being grossly mismanaged. Maintenance is terrible, theft is rampant and rents often aren’t being
collected. To put it bluntly, our common wealth — and our children’s — is being squandered. We are all poorer
as a result.
We published
this report in 2003, but it proved so popular, with requests for it still coming in, that we decided to reprint it. This report,
The State of the Commons, can be read in tandem with our 2006 report, The Commons Rising, which focuses on the rich explosion
of commons-based solutions to our many environmental, economic and
social problems. The State of the Commons is an introduction to the commons and
its distinct dynamics. As joint owners of a wide variety of common assets, we believe that we have an obligation to do what
any responsible owner should do: conduct an audit. Take inventory of the assets that belong to us, and assess their value
and how well they are being managed. To this end, the Tomales Bay Institute, on behalf of American commons owners, formed an audit committee to identify
problems and make recommendations. What follows is the committee’s report. The report has three parts. Part I describes
our common wealth and sets forth basic principles for managing it. Part II examines the state of six important commons. And
Part III makes recommendations for the future.
To learn more, check our sources, download a pdf copy or order printed copies of this report, please visit our website,
www.onthecommons.org.
Sincerely,Harriet Barlow, chair |
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Government as Trustee of the Commons
A
key function of government is to serve as the trustee of the
commons, but what exactly are the "commons"?
They are our shared
wealth, especially the gifts of nature like air, water, wildlife,
silence, crop seeds, and the genome (among other
things). According to
the
Tomales Bay Institute Report on The State of the Commons,[1] the
commons "embraces all the creations of nature
and society that we
inherit jointly and freely, and hold in trust for
future
generations."[2] It encompasses common assets,[3] common property,[4]
and common wealth.[5] Government care is most important
for those
commons essential for survival -- air, water, biodiversity
(pollinators and plants, wolves and whales). It
is these that must be
tended
in such a way that they provide the means to meet individuals'
and communities' right to a clean environment,
and are handed down
unimpaired
to future generations in fulfillment of their rights to a
habitable planet. The trustee
responsibilities of government help determine what kind of
budget governments should have. What are the commons
under their
jurisdiction?
What must be done to monitor, regulate, and enforce
rules, as well as restore and augment the commons? Budgets should
be
tailored to
the tasks necessary for government to fulfill its
obligations to current and
future generations to leave a habitable
planet. The Tomales Bay Institute proposes that governments
audit the commons
and
provide a report as part of the budget since the commons
represents the shared wealth of the people. Imagine
the guardian of
future
generations doing the audit and providing recommendations for
strengthening
our legacy to future generations. Protecting the commons for current and future generations requires
some new principles of law. Consider these: 1.
A life-sustaining, community-nourishing, and dignity-enhancing
ecological commons is a fundamental human right
of present and future
generations. 2.
It is the duty of each generation to pass the commons on to future
generations unimpaired by any degradation or depletion
that
compromises
the ability of future generations to secure their rights
and needs. 3. The services
and infrastructure of the Earth necessary for humans
and other living beings to be fully biological and
communal creatures
shall
reside within the domain of the commons. 4. All commoners (the public or a defined community)
have rights of
access to, and use of, the ecological commons without discrimination
unrelated to need. Such rights shall not be alienated
or diminished
except
for the purpose of protecting the commons for future
generations. 5.
Publicly owned commons belong not to the state but to the commoners
(the public or a defined community), both present
and future, who are
entitled
to the benefits of their commons. 6. It is the responsibility
of government to serve as trustee of the
commons assigned to it by law for present and future generations. In
fulfillment of this responsibility, governments
may create new
institutions and mechanisms as well as authorize
responsible parties
to
manage the commons or resources therein. All actions taken by
government or its designees must be transparent and
accountable to
commoners. 7.
The precautionary principle is a critical tool for protecting the
commons for present and future generations. 8.
Eminent domain (the "taking" of private property for a public use
and subject to payment of just compensation) is
the principal legal
process
for moving private property into the commons. 9. The market, commerce, and
private property owners shall not
externalize damage or costs onto the commons. If the commons are
damaged, the polluter, not the commoners, pays. 10.
Future generations shall not inherit a financial debt without a
corresponding commons asset.
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