The Local Exchange Trading Scheme for the Leighton Buzzard Area

Trading

Here is an example of what might happen in a LETS. No money changes hands for most of the trades (although Eddie will probably need to buy some cloth), but there is no direct barter, either. The LETS acts as the 'middleman', introducing trading partners and providing the local currency.

• Arthur keeps free-range hens and would like to buy some tomato plants.
• Beattie is good at aromatherapy, but needs her computer fixing.
• Charles bakes cakes, but suffers from stress at work.
• Denise wants a cake for her daughter's birthday, and is good at dressmaking.
• Eddie grows tomatoes and would like to give his wife a dress on her birthday, but is unemployed and doesn't have that much money.
• Fiona is good at mending computers, which she uses in her hobby of dress-designing, and likes to cook using fresh produce.

Arthur gets his tomato plants from Eddie, who commissions Denise to make a dress. Denise gets the dress designed by Fiona, who mends Beattie's computer. Beattie gives Charles an aromatherapy massage, and Charles makes a cake for Denise using eggs he gets from Arthur. Arthur also supplies his eggs to Fiona, who uses them and some tomatoes from Eddie to make a lovely omelette and tomato salad for her supper. Phew!