Every Road Leads Home
Well-known member
I started mine a few months ago and I'm going to continue it through the new year. It's been on my mind for years and i've finally actively been working towards it.
Mine is to try and buy whatever I'm looking for "Made in the USA". Seeking out small family owned companies when possible. As well as shopping at small local family stores even if what i'm buying is made in China, I can at least support the local family. Not the tax evading corporations and multi million dollar salaried CEO.
I bought about 18k in materials remodeling my house these last two months and normally I would have spent it all at Home Depot and Lowes. Only $3k was spent at Lowes for Cabinets because they fit my budget and they were in stock. The rest was spent at locally owned supply houses.....one for drywall, one for electric, one for plumbing and the local hardware store/lumber yard, who now greet me by name when I go in there, which is a lot more satisfying than walking into Home Depot. They also recommended me a few sub contractors who did excellent work. I consider the little bit extra money to be money well spent. Being new in town I made some new connections and lasting friendships.
Next week i'm taking an hour road trip north to Conway, NH to buy my wide plank pine flooring from a small lumberyard that specializes in making it in house from trees cut on their own land. They assure me that it's 2x as good a quality as Home Depots and it's actually a tiny bit cheaper! Going to be a great scenic ride too.
One of my greatest pleasures traveling is visiting all the small local places across the country. Decade after decade cooperate America is making more and more of the country look the exact same. Strip malls coast to coast have the exact same stores, gas stations, fast food. I travel for a change of scenery, not to see more of the same! It's kind of sad to think of all the mom and pop shops that folded along the way.
That's my long winded New Year's Resolution. What's yours?
-Matt-
Mine is to try and buy whatever I'm looking for "Made in the USA". Seeking out small family owned companies when possible. As well as shopping at small local family stores even if what i'm buying is made in China, I can at least support the local family. Not the tax evading corporations and multi million dollar salaried CEO.
I bought about 18k in materials remodeling my house these last two months and normally I would have spent it all at Home Depot and Lowes. Only $3k was spent at Lowes for Cabinets because they fit my budget and they were in stock. The rest was spent at locally owned supply houses.....one for drywall, one for electric, one for plumbing and the local hardware store/lumber yard, who now greet me by name when I go in there, which is a lot more satisfying than walking into Home Depot. They also recommended me a few sub contractors who did excellent work. I consider the little bit extra money to be money well spent. Being new in town I made some new connections and lasting friendships.
Next week i'm taking an hour road trip north to Conway, NH to buy my wide plank pine flooring from a small lumberyard that specializes in making it in house from trees cut on their own land. They assure me that it's 2x as good a quality as Home Depots and it's actually a tiny bit cheaper! Going to be a great scenic ride too.
One of my greatest pleasures traveling is visiting all the small local places across the country. Decade after decade cooperate America is making more and more of the country look the exact same. Strip malls coast to coast have the exact same stores, gas stations, fast food. I travel for a change of scenery, not to see more of the same! It's kind of sad to think of all the mom and pop shops that folded along the way.
That's my long winded New Year's Resolution. What's yours?
-Matt-
