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Food is a necessity — you are going to have to buy it. Instead of shopping at a chain super market, re-focus your money. Get take-out from a local restaurant or find a local shop for that new item you were about to buy on Amazon!

Many businesses have adjusted to better address the needs of our current situation. Some salons are selling DIY kits, and some stores are offering curb-side pickup. Businesses are changing to fit our needs, so support them! Make sure your favorite local businesses make it through this pandemic.

Purchase a gift card for a place you would usually go to in non-pandemic times, such as a hair specialist, restaurant, or theater. You can use this gift card once quarantine is over. In the mean time, your purchase stabilizes the incomes of people at these businesses.

With spending significantly down, consider donating money to a place you normally would have visited. Keep paying your nanny, or donate in place of an event ticket. Donating will keep businesses running and money circulating, supporting the overall economy.

A thank-you to your favorite small business on social media can go a long way. So can a picture of you shopping local or eating at a local restaurant. Small businesses generally do not put a huge emphasis on advertising, so spreading the word is always helpful! 

You may have something unique and valuable to offer a local business. Are you a webpage designer? Maybe you have skills in accounting? Reach out to a local business to see how you can help in a way others can't.