College is a time of growth for students. Many build foundations for their futures, whether it is a formal education, marriage, finding themselves or all three. Another aspect of college is learning how to balance a budget. Financial independence means students have the responsibility to make smart financial decisions on where and how they spend. Shopping locally is a wise option that will leave you, the community and your wallet happy.

Local shopping invests in the community and builds relationships. While Searcy does not have the largest scene for shopping it has enough to allow you to shop locally. The importance of shopping local is often underestimated. It offers a way to support farmers, working mothers, dreamers and your own neighbors. It allows neighbors to help neighbors, and is that not what Harding has taught us to do? Local businesses often need assistance in executing their message that they too hire locally, whether it is a contractor or an accountant.

Owners of local businesses invest their money, emotion and time into creating a place or service for their community to enjoy and utilize. While Searcy may not be a student’s forever home, it still continues to host and welcome them into the community. The least a student can do in return is support the Searcy local businesses. Shopping at huge corporations may be convenient, but it lacks the quality shopping local has, such as the opportunity to build relationships with the producers and sellers. Once you realize the importance of supporting locals, you should help raise awareness of shopping and eating local.

The Searcy Square offers the community services to enjoy, from indulging in something savory or sweet to watching a movie at the historical theater, The Rialto. Rather than driving through at a fast food chain, you should try a local eatery that features unique and well-made foods such as The Cookie Basket or Slader’s Alaskan Dumpling Company. The Searcy Certified Farmers’ Market sells a variety of foods and goods and is worth a visit. The market offers reasonable prices on foods that are beneficial to your health. You cannot find a better source for pesticide-free products than the local farmers’ market, because the farmer can directly inform the consumer on the process of how the product was made.

Little things like shopping local make a big difference in both the community and world. So this spring season shop local to support the Searcy community; you will not be disappointed.