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You vote every single day with your wallet

Rarely do you hear this statement. However, it is true. It is of equal importance to voting in elections and referendums. In the world today, money is not just a practical tool. How you spend it sends a signal. It shapes trends. It helps certain businesses and pushes others to change. Your “wallet vote” counts immediately and every single day.

When you buy something, you’re not just getting a product. You’re supporting a set of values and the people who stay behind them and run the selected business.

1) Choosing ethical fashion tells brands that exploitation isn’t acceptable.

2) Buying local food keeps small farms and family businesses alive.

3) Paying for indie games, music, or art keeps creators independent instead of relying on algorithms.

4) Supporting sustainable tech helps climate-positive companies grow faster.

Every euro is a micro-investment in the kind of future you want. You’re the one who decides, and you can influence others with your positive example.

The Christmas experiment

For the past almost 7 years, I have always bought Christmas gifts for my family and friends from small local businesses run by decent people who help their communities. Or from social enterprises and NGOs that are selling handmade products to help disadvantaged people. Or I have just donated the money and given a card to my loved ones, explaining that my budget for presents was given to charity.

Starting 3 years ago, I tried to expand this and inspire other people to do the same. And since then, each year, I run a small campaign on my own social media. Nothing fancy, no hashtags that go viral, no big sponsors behind it. I simply ask people to do one thing during the holiday season:

Buy your presents from a local business, a social enterprise, or donate that budget to a charity instead.

The first year, only a few friends reacted. In the second year, more people joined. Last year, I knew that over 20 people messaged me saying they chose to do the same. And just like that, step by step, thousands of euros each year are spent and go to people who are trying to make the world a better place.

Did it make a difference? Absolutely.

Those small businesses feel it. Local makers feel it. Social enterprises and charities feel it. And the people who participated told me they felt better, too, because their spending meant something. They were not just adding more zeros to the balance sheet of a corporation.

Small changes in spending can make a big impact

Imagine this:

– If you buy one ethical shirt, that’s nice.

– If 10,000 people do it, a brand changes its supply chain.

– If you donate €10, that’s helpful.

– If one thousand people do it, that’s a huge impact.

– If you support one indie creator, you help them keep going.

– If communities everywhere do it, independent culture thrives instead of disappearing under giant platforms.

This is the power of collective action done quietly, through choices you make every day. Like where you get your coffee from. And you don’t even have to look that hard. I am sure that you have many friends who are trying to start a side hustle or a small business. Maybe they try to sell their artwork, or they have opened a bar, or sell an e-book. Start by supporting them. Of course, be critical and give feedback when such is needed, but spend a couple of euros to help them kick-start their dream. It would mean the world to them. And remember – you don’t need to be rich to make an impact.

Don’t spend more. Just spend differently. Ask yourself the following:

“Which business do I want to grow because I gave them my money?”

“What values am I supporting with this purchase?”

“Could this euro go somewhere more meaningful?”

Most of the time, shifting your spending does not mean things will cost more. It’s just more thoughtful and you might need to do some research to find a proper product or a service.

A mindset, not a rulebook

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being conscious. It is not about shaming you if you choose not to follow my suggestion. Buy fast food if you want. Order something cheap when your budget is tight. Nobody lives sustainably 100% of the time. What matters is the direction. Not chasing perfection. If enough of us point our wallets toward things that matter, the system follows.

Here is my request for you – try to spend with purpose. I know you won’t make it every day. I know it won’t be every purchase. Just try to do it as often as you can. Start this Christmas with the budget you have for presents.

Remember that your spending habits matter. This is your voice in a democratic society as well. And it is very powerful. It brings influence, and it is your chance to shape the world around you long before you step into a voting booth.

Choose local.
Choose ethical.
Choose companies building a better world.

If you don’t know where to begin, start small. Find a local coffee place or a bakery you want to support. Start going there. Tell your friends and find other like-minded people. Soon enough, what looks like a small drop in the ocean can turn into a tidal wave.

Your wallet is your vote. Every euro you spend shapes the world.  Make sure that it goes to the right place.

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