Close to a decade ago, our friend Alex returned from a stint in the Peace Corps. He regaled us with stories of teaching at a small school in rural Ghana.
The home where he dwelled had electricity but it didn’t work most days. Running water was a luxury. And he had learned how to make his own cheese from goat milk. He swore it was delicious.
As our time together drew to a close, Alex pulled a handful of items from his well worn bag. He returned from his travels with special gifts for each member of our family. I received a blue glass cross ornament and a headband hand made by women in his village. For our daughter, he brought back a broad-brimmed hat made from batik fabric. Its vibrant colors made her eyes widen. My husband received a shirt made from similar cloth.
Like most shirts, the inside collar of his had a tag. But this didn’t have directions for how to wash it. Instead, there was a name. You see, the maker of this shirt had left his name for us to know who had carefully cut, sewn and finished this one-of-a-kind piece of clothing.
The gravity of this act was not lost upon me the next time I went shopping. I looked at the tags, longing for an identity of the person who made the item. Whose fingers stitched the intricate patterns? Whose hands ran the sewing machine?
Rarely do we pause to consider who made the goods we use everyday or where they come from. I love that my dollars can support the people who live in the villages where Alex spent a year of his life. But I also love the idea that I can buy goods made in America, too.
Why does it matter?
Consumers list a variety of reasons for seeking out American-made goods. Perhaps you’re interested in investing in the U.S. job market, products made in the U.S.A. come from workers with stateside jobs. Some shoppers want to reduce their carbon footprint by buying goods closer to home, requiring less fuel to ship and as a result emitting fewer greenhouse gases.
Government oversight in the United States also guarantees better human rights for those working in the manufacturing industry. Employees are paid set wages and not allowed exceed an unreasonable number of working hours. Individuals are not forced into work without pay, nor are children expected to do dangerous jobs for mere pennies.
Buying American-made goods reaches beyond individual jobs, though. Choices to purchase domestic goods shapes the entire economy, from the construction companies who build the factories where the items are made to real estate purchases.
How can you find out?
The first step any consumer can take when attempting to buy American is paying attention. When you put something in your cart, check to see where the item is made. This extra step puts your plan in motion.
However, according to Consumer Reports, you may need to take a few extra steps. While the Federal Trade Commission requires for the majority of the components in a product to be made in America in order to receive a stamp of approval, fakes can slip in, too. If you can, look for a “Country of Origin” stamp somewhere on the product. These are enforced at the border and require more oversight.
A simple online search can also help you identify specific products made in the U.S. Personal finance guru Clark Howard has a roundup of over 100 American made goods on his site. Websites like AmericansWorking.com and USALoveList.com can also help inform your purchase decisions.
How can you save money?
Surveys show that most Americans would actually pay up to 10 percent more for goods made in the U.S. However, no one wants to overspend on the items they need. After all, smart shopping strategies allow you to purchase more of the goods you value and love, making the most of every penny.
When it comes to saving money on American-made goods, you’ll need to explore every avenue of possibility. Begin by looking for coupons online. Don’t forget to use cash-back apps like Ebates, Shopkick, ibotta or Swagbucks.
It’s smart to investigate store discounts, too. Many American-made kitchen appliances are sold in home improvement retailers like Menards, Home Depot or Lowe’s. These stores offer their own rebate programs and in-store coupons. You can also ask for a manager to see if large purchases like these can be reduced in price.
One of the greatest gifts of living in the United States of America is our ability to purchase products from all over the world. Buying goods from other countries doesn’t make you less of an American. And at times, your purchases can make an impact in a part of the world you may never even visit, like the village where our friend Alex spent a year of his life.
But, if you make the choice to seek out American-made goods, you can both buy quality made items while saving money, too. It only takes a bit of ingenuity and know how — two treasured American values.
