I tend not to shop at big box stores because there are none of them where I live and when I go into the city I try to support local book, music, craft and other types of locally owned business. Many of these small shops offer unique service and hard to find items that would never be on offer at the big stores. If we lose our small shopes, we hurt our neighbours, cut down on our choices and send money out of the community. I am not a wealthy person but it is worth it to me to spend a wee bit more to support my local community and economy.