Buy gift cards
Purchasing a gift card to your favorite shop, theater or restaurant is an immediate way to put cash into the business
Shop local -- online and off
When it comes to shopping locally, health guidance from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control "is literally disrupting business as usual
Take advantage of discounts
To weather to COVID-19 storm, some businesses are offering discounts
Order in
Many independently owned restaurants and food businesses that haven't previously done so are now getting on to delivery platforms like Uber Eats. How you pay may be a concern. If you're sick or in a self-quarantine or if you're elderly and at risk, you might use your credit card to pay over the phone, including the tip for the delivery person, and ask them to leave the bag of food outside your door, said Dr. Robyn Gershon, an epidemiology professor at New York University's School of Public Health.
"But if you are fine and not in a 14-day quarantine, there's no reason not to open your door and hand the delivery person a tip."
Tip a little more than usual
If you do go to a restaurant or bar, or when you order takeout, consider being a little extra generous on the tips for wait staff and delivery people, since their income will drop due to fewer patrons.
A bigger tip may not directly contribute to a restaurant's bottom line, but it does help others and it contributes to the spirit of goodwill and appreciationin the community, which can help with everyone's mood.