Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Re-Purpose

I love this concept. Over the past few weeks I have gotten so many things for FREE! Things that I have wanted, but just couldn't bring myself to pay money for. I am cheap these days. I have taken these items and re-used them by re-purposing them. None of them are actually being used as they were originally purposed to. I love it!

I am trying to make weekly trips to Goodwill, Salvation Army, and to yard sales to see what I can find that would fit in our house. It is really stretching my (non-existing) creative skills. It is amazing what a can of paint can do for an item. I am having so much fun!!

While I was out and about two weekends ago I was handed a flier about "the 3/50 project". Basically, it is a project trying to encourage people to shop at locally owned businesses. It says that if just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in independently owned businesses, their purchases wuold generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.

For evey $100 spent in independently owned stores, an average of $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays in the community. Spend it online and nothing comes home!

After seeing this flier I tried to think of places that I could shop. My first stop was at the locally owned Ace Hardware store. I love going in there due to the personal service I have always received. I will admit that it is easier to go to one of the big three...Lowes, Home Dept or Menards, but I really like going in Ace Hardware when I can.

I was also thinking that we could go to locally owned resturants sometimes if/when we go out to eat. I don't think that I can give up my chain stores completely. They are business, too, and they employ people in the community. Just a thought as to how we can support some of those small businesses.

Well I am off of here...I need to find some more license plates and two wooden shutters. This re-purposing is so much fun!!!!!