Upon a closer look, the money being printed at this mint isn’t U.S. dollars. It's local currency in Pittsboro, North Carolina, and it's perfectly legal!

The local money may look a little funny, but it has raised serial numbers and a watermark to prevent counterfeiting. The idea is to get residents in the community to buy local as the local bills are accepted all over town.

Residents can use the local currency to pay their rent, fill-up at the pump and purchase groceries or lunch at one of the local cafes.

So, how does the system work?

Townspeople take their “real” money to a bank in downtown Pittsboro to convert it to the local money. $100 U.S. dollars becomes $110 in the local currency!

Though the local cash can only be spent around town, it’s a whopping 10% increase in spending power that turns into real money in the buyer’s pocket!

Melissa Frey launched the local currency and says she's not trying to replace the U.S. dollar, she just wants to help local residents and business owners during these tough economic times.

INSIDE EDITION’s Paul Boyd visited the North Carolina town to do a little local shopping.

The savings at lunch alone were impressive! A turkey sandwich on rye with a bag of chips and a bottle of water cost $9.58 in U.S. currency. But, paying with the local Pittsboro dollar, lunch really was just $8.62. Boyd saved 96 ¢ on his lunch.

With an extra buck in his pocket, Boyd proved that though the bills may look like funny money, the savings are for real!