This week begins the biggest shopping season of the year.

And with it comes the biggest chance for residents to make an economic difference in their community.

Local businesses depend on local patrons, even in a community such as ours with a heavy tourism economy.

Local spending still matters.

It’s a simple concept, but one that is worth repeating each year about this time.

Spending money locally just makes sense. While it might be considered “fun” to head out of town for a shopping diversion, doing so is taking money out of our community and investing that money in another community.

The more we can keep money rolling over in our local economy, the better our community will be.

Spending in local stores fuels our community’s economy in a multitude of ways.

Successful merchants add to the economic base. They hire workers, pay taxes and invest in their businesses. Each of those things helps the community as a whole.

Shop local first.

Shop small, locally owned businesses second.

If everyone in our community followed those two simple rules, our economy would be truly blessed this holiday shopping season.