\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6to go to one of my favorite stores, the West Concord 5 & 10, and buy Valentine supplies for the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Create A Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u009d program that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be running on Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day.\u00c2\u00a0 The 5 & 10 is the genuine article, funky layout, lots of nooks and crannies, and every possible type of merchandise.\u00c2\u00a0 And the prices are reasonable, too.\u00c2\u00a0 Many times people ask me why I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t go to the superstore craft store that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s somewhere west of Harvard, and I reply that it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a longer drive than the 5 & 10, they probably don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really have what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m looking for, and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s probably more expensive than the 5 & 10.<\/p>\n
Given my many years of running a small independent toy store, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m also a huge advocate for supporting local businesses.\u00c2\u00a0 It makes me pretty angry when I hear people complain about dying town centers, and then in the same breath claim that all independent stores have higher prices than the chain and online stores.\u00c2\u00a0 Actually, it makes me REALLY angry: a good independent store is highly aware of being price competitive, and is very responsive to its customers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 needs.\u00c2\u00a0 Chances are that the product these small stores carry is of far higher quality than what you find in the chain stores, too.\u00c2\u00a0 Not to mention the ecological benefits of shopping close to home, since you burn far less fossil fuel driving to a local store (and if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re lucky enough to live within walking distance, then you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to drive at all).<\/p>\n
Since I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve gotten on this soap box, here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s one more comment: maybe the real problem is that we Americans buy too much STUFF that we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need.\u00c2\u00a0 How about only buying what you really need, and buying it at a local store in order to preserve town centers?\u00c2\u00a0 Certainly Jim and I have been pushed in this direction, due to budget and home size, and now that we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve gotten into the habit of only buying the essentials, no junk, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no way that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d ever go back.\u00c2\u00a0 It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a cleaner way of living, and also much easier to get a thrill (I splurged and bought myself a magazine the other day, and it felt like a real treat – for only $3.50!).<\/p>\n
One more thought: when living simply, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s much more call to visit your local library and take advantage of all the fabulous free materials available there for you to borrow and enjoy.<\/p>\n
And to think that this all started with me talking about buying Valentine supplies.\u00c2\u00a0 Does this count as stream-of-consciousness?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6to go to one of my favorite stores, the West Concord 5 & 10, and buy Valentine supplies for the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Create A Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u009d program that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be running on Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day.\u00c2\u00a0 The 5 & 10 is the genuine article, funky layout, lots of nooks and crannies, and every possible type of merchandise.\u00c2\u00a0 And the prices … Continue reading Today’s plan is…<\/span>