There are so many benefits to buying local. Not only do you support your community and your own health when you shop locally, there are also plenty of opportunities to save money along the way. So get your shopping list ready! Here are three tricks for shopping locally on a budget.

Go to a Farmers Market

Farmers Markets are an excellent way to shop, because of the wide variety of items offered, at exceptional prices. You also can’t find many of the vendor’s items sold in stores, so there’s a special unique factor to it all. Make sure to bring cash, as some vendors do not accept credit cards. And if you have cash, you have a set budget to stick to, which always helps when trying to save money. Our local market, the Gilbert Farmers Market, is open every Saturday morning.

Find a Local Farm

Looking for more specifics than what’s served up at the Farmers Market? Seek out your local farms that offer Community Supported Agriculture programs, a way for groups of people to buy products from local farms for a flat annual or monthly price. Buying bulk meat at farms will also save you money in the long run, and you’ll know exactly where your meat was sourced from. In Gilbert, check out local farms Perry Land and Cattle and Killian Beef for beef share info.

Check Local Shopping Event Calendars

Oftentimes there will be community events that offer special discounts to stores that may sponsor or be a part of the event. Keep an eye on the local community events calendar, and mark yours with special shopping days you’d like to attend. Locally, make sure to check out SanTan Village’s Community Support Saturday, held this upcoming September 25, in support of local food drives, clothing drives, and pet adoptions agencies.

Save money while supporting local, especially this year when our businesses need us most. For more shopping tips, check out our blog at Vistara at SanTan Village.