06/05/2026
If you think driving out of your small town to a big box store to buy groceries saves you money, check out this photo of price comparisons.
These are some of the groceries I just bought yesterday at Mullen’s Macke’s Grocery Store, with the second price being our closest big box store - same brands or store brand vs store brand, same number of ounces, etc.
I’ll say it over and over again. You’re wasting your time and money shopping out of town! Watch your local grocery store sales, download the app and use the coupons on it (called AppCard here for Macke’s) and most importantly: SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES!!
The big box stores or online companies you purchase from aren’t donating to local fundraisers. It’s not their logos on the sports programs, the back of event shirts or running ads on the school’s livestream service. They aren’t shelling out money to flock people’s yards with flamingos for the FCCLA National Qualifiers, helping send high school seniors to All-Star games or showing up to eat pie at the Historical Society’s Pie by the Slice. They aren’t tossing cash into the bucket at church or fire department dinners.
Shopping locally also means contributing to the community's tax base. Many purchases include sales tax that goes directly into local infrastructure projects. When we choose to shop in nearby towns or online, that tax revenue benefits communities that aren’t our own.
The Center for Rural Affairs points out, “While saving a few dollars might be tempting (at big box stores), supporting local businesses offers value that goes beyond the bottom line. When comparing prices, consider not just the sticker price but also the true cost of driving out of town - gas, wear and tear on your vehicle, and the extra time spent.”
Make shopping local your habit, not just a hashtag.
Where do we want the dollars we spend to make the biggest impact? Right here at home.
