Generally speaking, members can invest small amounts of their income at every meeting by purchasing shares. After a designated period of time, they can also take out loans from the savings group in order to reinvest in their farms or small businesses. Repayment terms and interest are designed by the group, but they are a much safer alternative to predatory lenders that are common in some of the places we work. As the group itself gains more resources, some are allocated into a social fund that can help community members during a time of crisis. Local groups are in charge of electing their own officers, setting their own specific bylaws, and keeping their own records.