There’s no question that November and December are the biggest times of year for shopping. But this year, it’s more important than ever to shop small and benefit your community.

Supporting local businesses means you’re supporting your friends and neighbors. And you’re likely to find unique items in mom-and-pop shops that you can’t find anywhere else.

For many of us, a new year is an opportunity for fresh starts and discovering the best versions of ourselves, but some things—like tax contributions and retirement deadlines—don't change much, if at all. And with that shiny new year right around the corner, meeting end of year deadlines and getting tax efficiencies in place now may prepare us for a smoother transition.