There’s a few things we know as the Christmas shopping season ‘officially’ opens on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

We know that for many of us it’s great fun to go shopping in Missoula or Kalispell.

Think about your tin cup.

We know that many folks like shopping online.

Think about your tin cup.

The national economy is tanking.

Think about your tin cup.

‘Tin cup’ refers to the donations that Mission Valley retailers of all descriptions - your local newspaper included - provide all year around. Do your kids trot down to Southgate Mall when they need to raise money for a 4-H project? I don’t think so. Does the manager of Kalispell Center Mall pull into the cheerleaders’ fund-raising car wash? No way.  Does the techie in charge of SpendYourMoneyOnLine.schizzle even know you exist? C’mon.

I’m not picking on the big malls  in particular. They’re fun to visit, even if you invest a couple of hours of your holiday time on the highway and more than a few dollars from your holiday stash in gas. Go to Kalispell and Missoula to shop.

But when it comes to plopping down your cash, keep the tin cup in mind. And shop the same places that support your kids and your community organizations.

There’s more. How many of us work in retail stores in Missoula or Kalispell? How many of us earn a living in retail in the valley? Why not support the stores that employ your neighbors?

The national economy comes down to one question: recession or depression in 2009? Locally, we can help stave off the hard times by keeping our dollars circulating at home. Each dollar tossed across a counter in the valley circulates seven times. One of those seven might keep your neighbor employed or might wind up in your kid’s tin cup next summer.

Go ahead and shop in the city. Hang onto your Christmas money and spend it at home.