Letter of the day (Oct. 29): Consider local impact when shopping for big-box bargains

What is the real price? Frugality is something that many of us are embracing anew -- because we have had cutbacks, are unemployed, or are underemployed. But the Oct. 27 article on cutting food costs brings our real economy into question ("When the price isn't right"). Where do we spend the money we have? The story encourages us to clip coupons, reduce portion size and use alternative protein sources -- all great ideas. But we are also told to buy all of our groceries at wholesale clubs. What does this do to the very real economies of small- and medium-sized businesses in our communities? When we shop at our local grocer, the money we spend goes back to our community -- to the farmers, truckers and business owners -- to the people we have as neighbors. And spending our money locally is not isolationism -- our country celebrates enterprise. Should we really undercut farmers, local food suppliers and the grocery up the street because we want to save a dollar? And give the rest to Sam Walton or another nonlocal, big-box chain? Who really benefits? We need to consider how we can cut back and save money in ways that don't harm our vibrant community of Minnesota businesses and farmers.JOAN WILLIAMS, ST. PAUL