Independence Day: Investing in Your Country

Parades. Fireworks. Bomb pops. Barbeque. On this July 4th, I’m taking in all four, and I feel pretty patriotic…but at the same time not as red-white-and-blue as I could be. This leaves me wondering how I can invest in our U.S. of A.

Short of enlisting in our fabulous Armed Forces (which, in my case, is unfortunately impossible), what can you or I do to invest in our great country? Let’s look at a few of my ideas, and then please add your own in the comments section below!

Support Our Troops

One of the best ways to invest in the United States, in my opinion, is to support our troops. No matter if we agree or disagree with the wars we as a country have placed ourselves in, there is no denying that our troops bravely face tremendous dangers every single day to help other countries and to defend our nation. Those young people deserve our unconditional love and support, so let’s show them some love in the following ways:

• Send Care Packages – Members of the Armed Forces love to receive care packages, letters and cards. A little touch of home can go a long way in making them feel appreciated and loved. Many local organizations like the Elks, Rotary Clubs and Lions Clubs may hold care package drives, forward the many packages overseas, and deliver them to soldiers who have little or no family support from the homefront. Also, organizations like Support Our Troops have many programs which you can join.
• Support Their Families – Families of the men and women overseas often also appreciate the support of others. These families could need anything from monetary support to a stuffed animal to a shoulder to cry on. You could make cookies for a neighbor whose husband is overseas, or you could check out Operation Homefront to donate in other ways.

Buy American Goods

Another way to show some patriotism is to buy only products made in the United States. This can be very difficult to accomplish and (in many cases) more expensive, but buying goods built or made almost entirely in the US supports the families that live here.

One of the best ways to buy American goods is to look for the “Made in the USA” label. This label certifies that at least 50% of the parts used in the product are American-made and that the final assembly is completed in the United States. This is still a long way from a 100% United States product, but it does support our American families more than other products.

I know I just touched on a few of the many patriotic investment ideas, so please let us know how you invest or plan to invest in the United States. This 4th of July is a perfect time to commit to a new investment!

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