We all know how much fun and how convenient shopping on the Internet is, and how cheap it is to support large discount stores when we’re all trying to stretch our dollars. But we also know that when we do this, we fail to support the small businesses that depend on our dollars to even exist, too—businesses that are usually made up of people in our own communities, just trying to survive and make a living like we are.

It doesn’t take a lot to support these businesses; all you need to do to know that is take a peek at the 3/50 Project. It’s very simple: just choose your three favorite small businesses to support locally. Maybe it’s a hair salon you love, or a tiny specialty toy store, or a small bookstore owner. These things may charge you more because they simply don’t have the resources to offer many discounts, but they will also usually offer big smiles, hospitality, and even friendship.

After you choose the three businesses, vow to spend $50 at each business each month. While it’s true that many of us can’t even afford to spend $150 on anything other than groceries and gas each month, some of us can; and if only half of the working population spent this much a month, it would generate a whopping $42.6 billion in revenue!

And what’s even better is that when you spend this much, $68 out of every $100 spent goes back into the community through taxes, payroll, and other ways—so you’re really supporting the area in which you live by buying locally.

Visit the 3/50 Project to learn more, and be sure to stop in at your favorite local businesses this weekend—even if just to say hello and to offer a smile of support.