What it means. The 3/50 Project is a campaign to support local merchants. The concept has spread to communities nationwide, and its premise is simple: First, choose three local independent brick-and-mortar businesses—clothing shops, food stores and restaurants, and for the home, independent appliance retailers, hardware stores, and garden centers—that you find essential and want to keep from going under during the recession. During tight times like these, independent retailers suffer since budget-minded consumers are more inclined to shop at chain stores and big-box behemoths.

Then spend $50 or more among those places each month. If enough people in a town make the pledge, the theory goes, the pooled-together funds will prop up mom-and-pop enterprises and help sustain local business districts.

Why the buzz? What started out as a passing thought by retail consultant and blogger Cinda Baxter late last winter quickly spread throughout the blogosphere and onto Main Street. Buy-local campaigns are now in 100 U.S. communities, according to The Wall Street Journal, and the 3/50 Project Web site says 8,500 businesses are participating in the program.

“Most consumers don’t realize that so much more revenue stays in the community when they buy locally,” says Baxter. For every $100 spent at independents, she says, $68 comes back through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. At national chains, the return falls to $43. Not that Baxter wishes an end to every Home Depot, Costco, andPetSmart . “It’s not an all-or-nothing message,” she says, adding that there are some products that you might only find at chains. “It’s about balance.”

There’s another reason to frequent local retailers: You might have a better all-around shopping experience. In a recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, 25,000 subscribers told about their latest experience buying appliances. (Read the entire report to find the best places to buy small and large appliances.) In terms of overall satisfaction, independents were the highest-rated retailers of major appliances and second only to Amazon.com for small appliances. Respondents were especially satisfied with the service, checkout ease, and staff knowledge of their local retailers.Walmart, by comparison, received some of the lowest marks in these categories.

Prices do tend to be higher at independent shops, but negotiating a better deal can be easier at independents, especially if you pay cash, since these stores will appreciate not having to pay a transaction fee to the credit-card company.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Before you hit the (local) stores, use our recently updated Kitchen-Planning Guide to find the best appliances and materials.