The grass is always greener on the other side, or so they say. And while that very well may be true with some things, it’s certainly not when it comes to your neighborhood. There are a scores of reasons why hanging out in your own hood can be incredibly beneficial to you. However, most people still tend to herd towards the flavor of the month and congregate at the current hot spot. And as a return for their patronage, they often times get slapped with high bar tabs, long treks home (while drunk), or expensive cab rides. But we say “Forget the Fad, Keep it local!”, and this is why:

1. You’ll spend less money.

If you live in a borough, the prices you pay for things like coffee, beer, and food are far less pricey than their counterparts in Manhattan. Take for instance the small coffee that’s $0.75 at my local neighborhood deli as opposed to the $1.25 price tag on a small coffee at the deli by my office. Or even more importantly, commuting home if you’re in no sound mind to take mass transit. A cab ride 20 miles can easily cost $30, while you could take a local car service (likely costing about a third of that) or walk if you’re already in your neighborhood.

2. You’re supporting local — and usually small — businesses.

Starting a small business is no easy feat. And keeping the momentum going for the next few fate-deciding years isn’t either. With less than half of NYC based small businesses staying open after four years, it’s nice to throw some support under the little guy. Small businesses employ about half of the country’s workers and make up about 99.7% of all U.S. based employer firms.

3. Little or no commute

You can’t put a price on time. And having an extra hour to spend in solitude, or an extra hour hanging out with a friend beats the hell out of an hour commuting. In addition, you’re also making the best of your time spent. The less time you spend in transit, the more time you’re spending doing things that are of more value to you. Traveling back and forth from work steals enough precious minutes out of the day, and nothing takes the excitement out of a quick meet up like a long, painful hike to get there.

4. Meet neighbors and build a sense of community

Having a network of friends and acquaintances nearby is a great resource. We’ve all had those mornings where you just wanted to meet someone for a leisurely coffee, or have a late last-minute drink without too much planning. Or maybe you just need help changing a light bulb. Either way, knowing there’s a willing soul or a helping hand right around the block just makes life that less complicated. Not to mention, it creates a safety network where each person can look after one another.

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