While the national chains and website outlets flood your television and computer screens with deals and discounts for Christmas dollars, local shops do what they can to stay competitive while staying in business. There is a common impression shopping local means spending more money. However, this was a misconception I fought to overturn. In addition to local shop owners and clerks providing better customer service than those of large corporations, I still found good prices as part of the Press Gazette’s shop local challenge. My job was to spend a total of $20 for 3 people while shopping at locally owned stores within the City of Milton.
My sweetheart, Amanda, recently had some misfortune cleaning her laptop recently. While visiting Milton Computers, I found a handy can of Blow Off, a compressed air product I think she may be able to use for cleaning her delicate electronics. I know the wisdom of the ages advises against gifting cleaning products to women, but if it saves her computer in the future, I think she may be grateful. A future column may prove otherwise. The large 8-ounce can cost $5.27.
Twice Is Nice is a primarily second-hand clothing store mostly for women and girls. A sign on the door advertised the day’s discounts: 60 percent for green marked items, 50 percent for yellow, 40 percent for blue, 20 percent for orange, and 25 percent for shoes and purses. I was shopping at this store specifically for my mother. The kind clerk, who wished to remain nameless, understood my quest and still had some interesting items despite ruling out all clothing, since I have no idea my mother’s size. She pointed out a useful yet elegent tool I would likely have not been able to identify, a purse hanger. For the male readers, it’s designed to look pretty while keeping a lady’s purse off restaurant floors and seats. Twice Is Nice sold it for $2.13.
Hall’s Hardware rounded out my challenge experience where I found three items for both my mom and dad. The store was crowded with shoppers, clerks, and a plethora of large and small fixing, building, gardening, cooking, and working items. Finishing my mother’s shopping, I found a windup flashlight to keep in her purse along with the hanger for emergencies. It cost $3.99. For my dad, I found a handy credit card-sized multitool made of stainless steel with a sharpened edge, a sawtooth edge, a two-inch ruler, a circular hole for marking angles, four slots for hex bolts, a corner for flat head screws, and a bottle opener. The single piece tool cost 2.99. Finally, I found a blade sharpener with a carbide side for quickly setting the edge, and a ceramic side for finishing the edge, according to its instructions. The sharpener cost 2.99.
With taxes, my entire spending journey cost $19.08. I came away with some nifty, useful items for my parents and my dear love without leaving the local economy. My total Christmas shopping certainly is not over, but for less than $20 I have a few quirky additions to my gift giving this season. Beyond the few items I bought, Milton has a cornucopia of antiques, instruments, electronics, and clothing all within a short drive.
EDITOR'S CHOICE:
Matthew Brown — Pace area
Matthew’s shopping trip highlighted two areas of smart shopping in my book: shopping second hand and purchasing flowers at the local nursery.
Knowing his mother has a porcelain bird collection and finding three such birds for only $7.30 was a great deal. The potted plants for $4.79 was also a frugal choice.
Aaron Little – City of Milton
Aaron’s afternoon around the city brought about more interesting choices for his mother and sweetheart than I expected. I’d often wondered about the ingenuity for the purse hanger and thinking about its’ convenience at a restaurant was enlightening. Also considering how often I use a flashlight around the homestead for such a low price, I’m impressed. The Blow Off can for Amanda was sensible. We always need practicality in our lives.
The Winner:
Matthew’s purchases were frugal and he was able to get very nice items from Helping Hands Mission Thrift Store for a very low price. However, the fact Aaron was able to buy five items for three people and still save money makes him the winner of the challenge. Congratulations, Aaron. Donuts await in the press room.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton reporter weighs in for shopping challenge