Have you started Christmas shopping or are you one of those people who have completed the task and have everything wrapped?

I belong to the first group. While I blame my tardiness on my over-scheduled time, part of me also knows I don't need to hurry because I can get everything I need locally.

The push for shopping local hit home last week, when a 20-something year old shopped the sidebar for holiday gifts. She told me she's "keeping it local." Her holiday gift giving will feature only items from local stores.

No big box stores. No online mega-shopping sites.

That translates to not fighting crowds of last-minute shoppers.

That translates to keeping dollars in our communities, a win-win for everyone.

What are the benefits of shopping locally?

Buying local is a great way to find a personalized gift. Whether it's a hand-knitted scarf, a pair of leather dye-cut earrings or a scented soy candle, you can find interesting selections at small businesses.

Buying local keeps money in our communities. For every $100 spent at a local business, $68 stays in the community, according to a survey of independent businesses. Compare that to the $45 dollars that stay local when shopping at a chain store.

Buying local builds a sense of community. I'll use the sidebar as an example. We know the majority of our customers by name since they stop by often. We'll chat about types of Jim Bean coffee or honey flavors or they'll describe a specific item and we'll contact a vendor to see if they can create what the customer is looking for.

Buying local bring people to our communities. I can't tell you the number of times someone stopped by the shop while they're driving through town. We've had shoppers from all over Nebraska, as well as South Dakota, Iowa and Kansas. What I've learned is this: If they stop at one shop, they'll probably stop at another business in town, and usually, it's a locally-owned spot.

When I think about shopping local for Christmas, I think about gift certificates to local restaurants, grabbing a bottle of wine or spirits from the local bar, fudge from Orchard, a gift basket from the grocery store, a gift card for fuel at the local convenience store, hair care products from the local hair stylist, a punch card for tanning sessions, crafted items from local artisans and a gift certificate to your local community newspaper.

Small, locally-owned businesses are rooted in local communities and are the lifeblood of our local economies. I urge you to consider shopping (and reading) local, not only this holiday season, but throughout the year.