What to do with your resources

Part of living in a capitalist society is that we have to make and spend money. In fact, consumer spending makes up an outsized portion of the US economy. The truth is, in the world we live in, money talks. Including your money. So what should you do with it?

If you follow the whims of news cycles and social media, every few minutes it seems there's a new target for some organization, corporation, or person who doesn't deserve our money. Target (the big box chain) continues to deal with the aftereffects of the angry backlash over their decision to end DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives. Disney Plus subscription cancellations skyrocketed after Jimmy Kimmel was fired, before that decision got reversed.

Yeah, money talks.

But what about YOUR money? What about right here in Williamsport and the Susquehanna River Valley? How do we go about best making our money "talk" effectively?

The best advice is to spend with intention. Have some ideas of who your money is going to and what they support. That said, don't beat yourself up if your circumstances, situation, or requirements mean you have to spend money somewhere you'd rather not. Take care of yourself first.

Don't beat yourself up if your circumstances, situation, or requirements mean you have to spend money somewhere you'd rather not.

One of the best ways you can talk with your money is to shop locally. We all give in to the convenience of midnight shopping from bed from time to time. But what if, as often as you can, you shake the hand of the neighbor whose housing your spending is helping pay for, whose family your shopping is feeding, whose healthcare is funded by your retail therapy?

Williamsport has some regular offerings that help you find and support local vendors.

• Williamsport First Fridays, especially in the warmer months, are a great time to walk around downtown with your neighbors and find all kinds of surprising and wonderful things. While a bit more contained as the weather chills, you can find something going on the first Friday of every month of the year.
• Every Saturday, the Williamsport Growers Market is open at the corner of Little League and Pine Street. Park in the Pine St UMC church lot and walk over to find fresh goods, meats, and produce (depending on the season). Like First Fridays, the market is open every Saturday morning year round.

Williamsport also offers tons of local businesses that provide all kinds of items you might want or need. Chocolates and baked delights, vintage clothes or menswear, coffee at Sweetspire or tea at Tria Prima, books at Otto's Bookstore or office supplies at Plankenhorn's, amazing unique finds at Gustonian Gifts, and that's all in just right around downtown.

What if, as often as you can, you shake the hand of the neighbor whose housing your spending is helping pay for, whose family your shopping is feeding, whose healthcare is funded by your retail therapy.

From breweries to stationary, shipping to seafood, clothing to office furniture, you can find a neighbor selling what you need. Spend just a little bit of effort and maybe some gas to shop all over our valley and nearby areas and your money goes so much further right here in the community. When you do, you might just make a new friend in your butcher, farmer, fishmonger, thrift shop owner, tailor, clothier, stylist, bookseller, chocolatier, and so much more.

If you want to talk effectively with your wallet, look around you first. That's the best way to grow the community we share.