There are just days left to pick up gifts for loved ones and Sarah Sadrakula recommends shopping local. Sadrakula, director of Main Street Washington, reminds shoppers to there are a variety of items available for purchase in Washington for everyone from grandparents to pets. Sadrakula adds that spending money at locally owned stores helps the community as a whole. The money spent goes into the community in the form of taxes, in addition to the donations owners provide to area organizations throughout the year.

According to the American Independent Business Alliance, 48 percent of money spent at independently owned businesses recirculates locally; Sadrakula says some models show up to 68 percent recirculating.