I’ll rarely tell you to shop til you drop, but I will tell you this:

Shop as much as you want, provided you’re shopping at local and independently owned businesses. (And it’s on your shopping list.)

According to the awesome researchers at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, shopping at a local, independent business returns 3 times as much money to your community than shopping at a chain.

Shopping at a local, independent business returns nearly 50 times as much money to your community than shopping online.

Local business owners are more likely to contribute to the community through volunteering, local government, and participating in civic causes and events.

Supporting a local store helps make Charm City charming.