LETS has the ability for you to use your time, energy, skills and knowledge to earn units like you would cash, and spend your units like you would cash, to meet your needs, without cash! You keep track on the CES server.
https://www.investopedia.com/insights/what-is-money explains that money can be whatever community decides is valuable. Gold used to be valued because the community had decided it is worth something. Like our debit cards, LETS is using something that is unseen but accounted for – on the CES platform, using an alternative currency, in our case called units.
Trading is the energy driving LETS – not the hoarding of units, so that is why going into debt when you join is equally encouraged because quite often when you join, what you badly need is blocking your ability to focus on anything else. There is always opportunities to earn units in LETS – it might be online services, hands on services, goods that no longer serve you, participating in working bees, a lift to appointments or dropping something off for someone.
So be brave and advertise your offer and wants, as it allows others to get to know you, help you with your need and become part of a supportive community!
You can start with a simple “extra pair of hands” offer and pay the once off joining fee, then start trading as soon as you receive your welcome letter email with your account number and password. Joining the Facebook Members Forum private group will allow you to talk out issues when you feel stuck for ideas, get support from the management committee etc. There is a public offers and wants Facebook group and FB page too. We are always looking for help with promotions etc – find us on Our Community Directory and oneplace.org.au.