Great gifts that support the local economy:

Let’s Shop local, here are a few ideas to help you out, we all have so much to gain by shopping locally this Christmas.

How about gift certificates from your local hair salon or barber? Everyone needs a haircut.

Gym membership? It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed at the small owned detail shop? Or an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a local garage?

For the Gardeners on your list – how about some lovely pot plants or garden sculpture from our local nurseries or even a gift certificate from the local lawnmowing person.

Are you one of those extravagant givers? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like games at our local golf course, a PCYC membership, a beer hamper from the bottle shop.

Our local restaurants are all offering gift certificates. If your not after the fancy ones, what about a half dozen breakfasts at one of our local coffee shops.

This is about supporting your local community who have their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

A local home handy-person for some jobs to be done around the home, a gift certificate from the local hardware store.

Mum would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day or the ironing done.

Someone’s computer could use a tune-up, what about a certificate to the local computer doctor.

If you are looking to something more personal what about local produce, cards, jewellery, pottery or beautiful wooden boxes. A gift voucher or “Why Leave Town” card at the local gift store, jeweller or fashion boutique.

If you have money to burn, leave the postman, garbo, class teacher or babysitter a big “Why leave Town Card” (they can spend that anywhere in Goondiwindi)

Over the holidays plan local outings for the kids, the cinema, afternoon tea at the local cafe, fishing- grab the bait and some lines from our local sports shop.

Book a photo shoot with one of our many local & emerging photographers, it doesn’t matter who, just as long as they are local.

Musicians, singers and our theatrical group need love too, so book tickets to their next performance.

“Retail Christmas is not about draining Australian pockets for cheap junk with a short life, that ends up as landfill at the tip.

Retail Christmas is about caring about Australians, encouraging our small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams.

When we care about other Australians, we care about our communities, & the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine.”

Lets make this a wonderful new Goondiwindi Tradition. An amazing revolution of caring about each other and growing sustainability. If I have forgotten anyone, it is unintentional, I just wanted to demonstrate that there is so much to be gained by shopping locally this Christmas. Its more than the thought that counts.

Parts of this have come from an American source and been edited. I have edited it some more, (…from where it was edited before that…)  I dont know who to credit, but thanks anyway.