Some of the best frugal finds are the ones right under your nose. If you want to be in the “know,” watch your local newspaper for family events and keep an eye out for sale ads for small stores around your town or close to it. Look for sale tables set out on warm nights. Take the time to walk in and compare prices and quality. You may find the quality you get in a small store is worth the extra price for a special gift. When you support local stores and restaurants, you support your town and the resources it can offer.
Recently, my family attended First Friday in Phoenixville. The night was warm and the music was lively and entertaining to all ages. For the cost of an ice cream cone, I saw friends, entertained my children, viewed an interesting new art exhibit and enjoyed the evening outside. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my Friday night.
As we walked past one outdoor vendor, a friendly young man began telling me the benefits of the Phoenixville Area Business Association (PABA) “Local List.” For a mere $2, I received a small booklet with coupons for 43 local businesses in my town. I loved the idea because all too often I open my Entertainment book and the coupons for stores and restaurants are not nearly as convenient as right in my own backyard.
Once you buy the booklet, you take it with you to the stores listed, present the book prior to your purchase, redeem the offers, and have the corner of the applicable coupon stamped. The more stamps you collect, the more PABA dollars you can actually get back to spend and reinvest in Phoenixville. Once you get a certain number of stamps, you simply fill out the form in the front cover and mail it in to receive your PABA dollars. How cool is that?
The focus of this booklet is to encourage residents to support their own town through their purchases, especially a town that has worked as hard as mine to provide a variety of interesting food offerings and specialty stores. The booklet also gives the option to donate to several local non-profits and receive another stamp for a gift of at least $25.
Browsing through the pages, I saw that I would quickly redeem my $2 and soon be able to submit for PABA dollars to spend again. There are coupons for gift stores like the Potomac Bead Company and the Diving Cat. There are coupons for half-off a specialty drink at Steel City Coffee House and percentages off numerous other wonderful eateries. You can buy a dozen gourmet cookies and get a dozen at half-off. You can even get discounts on books, cigars, music and popcorn at the movies. What a fun way to get to know your town and support it.
If you have questions about the program or want get your own “Local List,” head over to www.discoverphoenixville.com to learn more.
In keeping with the theme of local sales, make sure to check out your upcoming school and activity fundraisers. You may be able to support your child’s activities and find some wonderful stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts. It will be here before we know it!
In the Phoenix September 12, 2009
