Local currency - anyone living in a town with one?

[choosyfloosy]

I know there are local currencies in Lewes, Brixton and Totnes, plus others in the US and elsewhere.

I'm thinking about possibly trying to get some momentum locally for one where I live. I've read a useful How To guide on the Lewes Pound website, but wondered if there were any MNers living in a town with a currency and what it was like.

[choosyfloosy]

bump

[Greenshadow]

We have the Stroud Pound.
See www.stroudpound.org.uk/. Could also try googling it for non-biased opinions.
'Fraid I don't use it myself, but might be able to answer any questions if you have any.

[choosyfloosy]

Thanks Greenshadow that was helpful.

I guess I wondered if you ever used it and stopped, or whether it's just irrelevant on a day-to-day basis.

I know traders here would rather see parking charges reduced to increase local footfall. Maybe I should stick to that...

[MrIC]

no, but good luck - it's a great idea!!

[KingofthePaupers]

Jct: Sure these kinds of currencies enjoy the Sparta effect. Visitors in Sparta could not spend their gold, they had to buy in for clay chips from the "casino bank" while the city banked the gold and kept the interest. So imagine everyone bought in for the cash to get local tokens. Exactly the same economic activity would go on but the community would benefit of the interest. Substituting your own currency for the national currency essentially doubles the money supply while half leaves town to collect interest elsewhere for the benefit of the whole community. The Sparta Effect.
But such systems are dependent on finding some scarce cash. Better to also start a LETS credit system too.