Other than the odd movie or birthday invite at a restaurant outside of her neighbourhood, Sheila Keenan's one-year commitment to shop locally in her New Westminster hub is going smoothly.
The Record last spoke to Keenan right before she embarked on her one-year journey that would restrict her from venturing very far for everyday necessities. Since she started on Oct. 1, she said it's going just fine.
"I just made my biggest local purchase, my desk," she said. The dark-stained, alder wood desk was purchased from Modern Home Furnishings on 12th Street. Although it's a chain, it's a B.C. chain and the piece is made of wood from the province and made in the company's Surrey factory.
But, the hardest thing she had to give up has been movies - and her favourite hand cream from L'Occitane in Vancouver,which will most likely be her first purchase after Oct. 1.
"I can't give up movies," Keenan noted, and there is no theatre in the neighbourhood. "I've been going to see movies, I keep going to see them. And when I'm invited to a friend's birthday dinner not in New West, that's pretty much it, the only time I don't shop local."
The drastic change in her shopping habits will have a lasting effect too, Keenan said.
She intends to continue shopping local predominantly after Oct. 1 as well.
"I won't stick just to New West," she said. "But I think mostly (I will). It's definitely made me think about how I spend my money, where I spend my money, and even why I spend my money."
Keenan takes pride in the fact that she's taking a role in keeping the local community's economy thriving.
"What I'm finding when I spend money (is) it kind of helps build the community you want to be in," she said. "People say they feel bad when a store's closing yet they haven't shopped there very much. If you want to keep a business in the community you have to spend money there."
For the month of February, Keenan did not shop at any kind of chain, but stayed within her local supermarkets such as Donald's Market, Uptown Market and Queen's Park Butcher.
"I assumed my grocery bill would skyrocket, but it actually went down," she explained. "Because I was afraid that my bill would skyrocket, I actually did meal plans for every week. It's a really good budgeting tool."
Keenan estimates that she saved at least $70 in the month of February, and she credits finding her packs of spaghetti for 99 cents as a great incentive.
"I found deals I wasn't expecting," she added. "I assumed smaller places would be more expensive. I found more interesting products, too."
For instance, Keenan discovered that Donald's sells a laundry detergent made in Vancouver that's a comparable price to most leading brands - and it works well with our local water.
"You can definitely find good deals," she said.
One side effect from shopping local and having two bakeries in the area has Keenan trying to balance trips to each, and her budget.
"Sometimes I feel bad," she said, "that we don't have an unlimited budget. I can't buy so much every week."
Besides the two bakeries vying for her attention, one of Keenan's favourite haunts is Great Wall Tea at the River Market.
"They do great tea lattes called the River Market Mist," she said. "It's like a London fog."
For the next four months until she reaches the end of her promise on Oct. 1, Keenan said she looks forward to the remaining time.
"I think it'll go fine," she added. "I'm not finding it too hard to stick to New Westminster."
The only thing Keenan said she needs to improve is keeping her blog entries updated. To read Keenan's blog check it out online at www.newwest-localshopper. blogspot.com.
Between finding good deals and interesting products, Keenan said she's elated that at least she started the blog.
"There's a list of things I wouldn't have done if I didn't start the blog," Keenan said. "I find shopping local is a nicer shopping experience."
As far as how well her husband is taking the challenge, which he is not technically a part of, Keenan said it's driving him a bit crazy.
"He keeps wanting to go to Canadian Tire . and if it's something for the house I always say no, and that's driving him crazy," she said. "Other than that, he seems to be fine with it. My perception is I'm shopping less. I don't know if that's his perception, too. I think it is."
