I am , again, participating in the Indie Challenge hosted by Bootsnall. Just like last year, I’d be posting an article a day, based on the question / challenge of that day.

>>you can join the challenge by clicking here

Nov 15
Give Back to the Local Economy

QUESTION:
What are 3 ways you can make an effort to give back to the local economy when you travel?
CHALLENGE:WHERE DID YOU GO, WHAT DID YOU BUY? HOW DID BUYING FROM A SMALLER LOCAL PLACE DIFFER THAN GOING TO A BIG CHAIN? DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HELPED GIVE BACK TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY? WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF GIVING BACK, VERSUS SOME POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH BUYING FROM SMALL, FAMILY-RUN BUSINESSES. THESE MAY DIFFER FOR THOSE TRAVELING ABROAD VERSUS AT HOME.

I never though about “giving back to the local economy” until now. That’s probably because I am not a major fan of “chains” and prefer to buy from the small, local businesses.

Sure, I have my weak spots and I do visit some chains. Hard Rock Cafe, Tesco, Subway and Starbucks are brands I like; we don’t have Hard Rock Cafe, Tesco or Starbucks in my city but we do have Subway (and been to it only once since it opened). So I may “sin” a bit when I travel and find these chains.

However, I never stay in chain hotels or hostels. I stay in locally owned guesthouses or small hostels. I also really like rental apartments (I prefer to rent directly from the owner not via websites).

I am a major fan of markets, whether they are Christmas Markets, farmer’s markets or the very well known Central Market in Budapest. I go into th tiny souvenir shops, look for the hidden cafe and I always like what I find.

I find the local businesses to be very friendly and…nice to anyone going into their shops. I have yet to see someone being grumpy when you enter a tiny souvenir shop. Whereas I’ve had my fair share of grumpy stares at Tesco (well they do have stores which stay open late and you can find healthy and affordable food there).

I’ve listened to stories and made friends with a lady selling hand-made soap at Budapest Christmas Market. It was cold and there were few people in the market in the early hours of the day, but she was there, and I thanked her for waking up so that I could buy a soap on my way back home. I knew that the little money I spent on the soap really made a difference for her and her business.