With one day remaining before the official Christmas shopping season begins, now is a good time to think about something you probably don’t consider much — your own impact on the local economy.

With online retailers sporting an almost unlimited inventory and often offering free shipping, sometimes going online for purchase needs is simply enticing.

But the impact can be devastating to area businesses that depend upon local shoppers to keep their doors open.

Those shoppers provide a tremendous boost to the local tax base and the local economy as their spending stays at home.

The profits from local purchases — particularly stores with local owners — stays in our economy.

Those dollars help to fund local schools, pay for police and fire protection and generally help keep our community running.

We know you have a choice when you do your Christmas shopping and we know that some things may simply not be available in local stores, but we strongly encourage everyone to remember that where you shop does matter.

It matters to retailers.

It matters to the police and fire personnel your tax dollars fund.

And it matters to the future of our community. Please remember this holiday season to think Natchez and Vidalia first and shop locally as much as you can.