There’s often a disconnect between how we think and feel versus how we spend our money. We get angry when we see in the news how a major corporation underpays its employees or how major retailers here in the US make employees work on *major* holidays in the name of making a few more sales. It boils our blood seeing a cheap product made oversees in unsafe working conditions. We post articles on Facebook condemning the practices, we tweet at the companies asking them to stop and we complain to our friends about the greed of large corporations. Then, almost without thinking, we go shop at the big box retailers and eat at the fast food restaurants that we were complaining about. We hand over our money without protest and allow them to continue the very practices about which we’ve been protesting.

We live in an unprecedented era as young professionals. We’ve got both the financial means and informational power to make a difference. We live in a world where there are often plenty of choices to where we can spend our money. For every big box store that we love to complain about, there are probably 10 ‘Mom and Pop’ stores that we could choose to shop. Sure, we might pay a dollar or two more, but supporting a local community instead of a large corporation that we all love to complain about is worth it to me. For every fast food chain that pays its workers minimum wages, there are dozens of great local restaurants, all with tastier and healthier food options. We have a choice when it comes to spending our money. We can choose to have our actions match our words, or we can continue the trend of corporate greed and abuse.

This past weekend, where did you spend more of your money: at big box stores on Black Friday or at smaller, local stores on Small Business Saturday? Where did you do more of your complaining this past weekend: about the low wages and unsafe working conditions of the big box stores or about the struggles of the small businesses in your community?

Protesting and posting on Facebook won’t change things at a macro level. Sure, you’re making a statement, and perhaps the companies you’re complaining about will take notice, but not a lot will change. The loudest and most effective way to express your opinion is with your dollars and cents. Simply put, stop giving them the fuel to continue on with their alleged atrocities. Spend your money elsewhere; don’t give them your hard-earned money to carry on doing the things you don’t support. I’m trying to put this into practice in my own life. I’m tired of hearing about how little Walmart employees make and how Walmart essentially runs quality local businesses out of communities by peddling cheap, low-quality products. I’m sick of saving a couple of bucks in order to get a crappy product that breaks two days after using it. I’m also tired of how McDonald’s compensates its employees while bringing in tons of money for its shareholders. The literature they put out explaining to employees how to get a second job or telling them that breaking their food into smaller pieces will make them feel fuller makes me sick. You won’t see me posting articles on my Facebook page, though, and you won’t hear me complaining about them. I just don’t spend my money at those locations anymore. I’m making a statement with my money.

Life is full of choices and we are blessed to have those choices. We are all capable of making a loud statement at evils that we see in this world. When we see companies doing something that we don’t like, we have a method of making a statement to them. Next time you’re tempted to complain and then turn around and go shop at that very store, think again. You work hard for your money and should spend it wisely. Don’t spend it at organizations that don’t align with your view and beliefs. Send those companies a message loud and clear: “I’m spending my money elsewhere!”

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