Smart Money

The non-plastic credit card is with us. You can now support the campaign against PVC and an environmental cause. The Co-operative Bank Greenpeace Visa Card is guaranteed 99.9% PVC free and for every account opened the Co-op Bank will donate £5 to Greenpeace or £10 if you open it on-line. Phone 0800 339922 or visit www.co-operative.bank.co.uk/greenpeace.html

The RSPB Visa card is on target to raise £1 million over three years for wetland restoration projects in the UK. The Co-operative Bank will donate £10 for every account opened plus a further 25p for every £100 you spend with the card. The card is made almost entirely from Biopol, a natural material produced from plant extracts whilst no toxic chemicals are released during its breakdown. Phone 0800 551199 to find out about the full benefits - no need to be an RSPB member.

The WWF Visa card in conjunction with MBNA International Bank raises money for worldwide conservation projects. Visit the website at www.wwf-uk.org

Watch out for similar offers with other affinity cards.

Local Exchange Trading Schemes (LETS) use a local unit of currency to enable people to swap skills, goods and services. There are now over 500 schemes operating in the UK including Bracknell, Maidenhead and Reading. They help meet the needs of a local community and enable people to trade their skills and services without the use of normal money.

For further information visit the national website at www.letslinkuk.net/

You've heard about ethical investment whereby you can screen out (known as negative screening) those companies causing environmental damage, pollution or with a bad record on human rights for example? Why not instead direct your hard-earned cash to supporting businesses trying positively to put environmental and social concerns higher up their agenda? You can even choose where you want to direct your money to help very specific areas of the UK's emerging new economy such as renewable energy, organic farming or small "green businesses".

Bristol based Triodos Bank is the UK's only social bank lending specifically to support enterprises where ethics are at the core of their daily operations as well as being profitable. Ask for their project list of all the social and environmental projects the bank finances in the UK. Freephone 0500 008 720 or e-mail mail@triodos.co.uk for a copy.

Triodos Bank, Brunel House, 11 The Promenade, Bristol BS8 3NN Tel: 0500 008720 or visit www.triodos.co.uk.

The GAEIA Partnership at www.gaeia.co.uk offers independent advice on green, ethical, environmentally friendly and social responsible investment funds.

Other organisations worth checking out:

The Ethical Investment Co-operative Ltd for ethical and environmental pensions and investments Tel: 01325 267228 or e-mail greeninvest@gn.apc.org or visit their website at www.ethicalmoney.org/

Free Ethical Investment Information Pack available from Barchester Green Tel: 0800 328 6818

An opportunity for local people to become stakeholders in an exciting new renewable energy venture in the Thames Valley with Baywind Energy Co-operative Ltd. Visit www.baywind.co.uk now.

There is a market economy in which money drives transactions, and then there is a non-market economy that we do not consider as an economic system – our network of support in the form of family, friends, neighbours and community.

A time bank is a way for people to come together and help each other using time as a currency. Participants 'deposit' their time in the bank by giving practical help and support and are able to 'withdraw' their time when they need something done themselves. Everyone's time is worth the same and a broker links people up and keeps records. People help each other with everything from making phone calls to sharing meals and giving lifts to the shop – anything that brings them together.

So far there are 20 time bank projects up and running in the UK with 16 in development. Find out more now and join the network at www.timebanks.co.uk