Alternatives

Although money is very important to the vast majority of people for the purchase of goods, food and clothes, it is possible to receive some items without spending any money:

• Grow your own vegetables – even in small spaces it is possible to grow quite a lot.

• Make new clothes or household items from old or unused materials.

• Exchange some of your goods with other people.

• Barter – that is, agreeing to do something for someone else in return for some goods (not cash).

• Join a Local Exchange Trading System (LETS) where you can exchange your skills and services with other people. There is a special unit of exchange which you use to pay people who do something for you. Or local credit unions