Letsbuzz – still buzzing after 30 years!
Fed up with life being dominated by money, money, money? Do you classify yourself as a community minded person? If so, Letsbuzz may well suit you.
For the past 30 years, Leighton Buzzard has had its own currency; it’s a ‘Local Exchange Trading Scheme’ (LETS), where trades, favours and items are bought/sold not for sterling, but for a virtual currency called ‘Buzzards’. Hopefully our name ‘Letsbuzz’ makes sense now!
Sometimes people have items that they want to re-home (e.g. unwanted Christmas presents or clothes that no longer fit) and these can be traded for Buzzards, much as many folk do through the various on-line second-hand sites.
What makes Letsbuzz really special is that we swap our skills and time too. Sometimes this may be
offering to water plants if someone is away, helping set up a new phone for non-techi folk, doing some gardening, ironing or a bit of DIY. Other members have more specific skills: – hairdressing, bricklaying, cake making or offering foreign conversation sessions if they are a dual language speaker. Everyone gets paid in ‘Buzzards’ which they can exchange for other things.
If you are new to the area, it is a great way to get to know others in town. We organise social events as it is important to get to know fellow traders and build up trust. Wine tasting, book clubs, plant trading sessions and quiz nights have all proved popular. Interested to know more? Look at our website (Letsbuzz.org.uk) or contact lbinfo@letsbuzz.org.uk if you have any questions.
