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Strapped for Cash? Go to the Time Bank
If you've never heard of a time bank, the idea probably sounds like science fiction. Is it a place to buy a few more years of life when you feel you're getting too close to the end? Or maybe to go when you want to go on a little time travel vacation a la "Back to the Future"?
Sadly, the concept of time banks is a bit more ho-hum than all that. But that doesn't necessarily mean it isn't exciting. Maybe one day time banks will really have something to do with buying and selling time but for now they focus on trading services. And with the current recession in full swing, they're becoming more and more popular all over the world.
Rather than trading services for money, time banks give people the opportunity to trade their abilities or services for other services. So when somebody needs a service done --say, they need a new light switch installed--, he or she can turn to time banks instead of flipping open their local Yellow Pages. And they can do all of this without paying a penny. All they need is a skill of their own to provide in return.
How Time Banks Work
With so many people out of work and struggling to pay their bills, even small "luxury" services (as if plumbing or electricity were a luxury!) can be an impossible extra expense. You may have a pile of chores that need to be done around the house or extra little things you don't have the skills to do yourself but if you can't pay for them, you can't get them done.
But with time banks, you can trade your own skills for the skills of others. And, even better, you don't necessarily have to do a direct trade. Just because you need a plumber doesn't mean your plumber has to need something you can do for them-- say, fixing a bug on their computer. Instead, you just go to the time bank (these are generally online). There, you'll find a list of people in your area that can provide the service you need. When you get the help you need, you go off and help somebody else. For every bit of time you "use," you provide time to somebody else. And it won't necessarily be the person who gave you their time in the first place.
Types of Services
The great thing about time banks is that any kind of service can be bartered or traded for another. Some people are comfortable working with plumbing or electricity, or can complete manual jobs that you have no ability with (this is especially useful for older or handicapped people). Others might have more "intellectual" rather than physical skills. Maybe they can take photographs for a retirement party or help put together a resume (or, hey, even help you compose a great internet dating profile). With time banks, all kinds of skills can be put to good use helping others-- and helping yourself, too, without having to pay a cent.
Most people who use time banks stick to services offered in their area. But time bank hours can also be used in different geographical locations-- a different city, a different state, and sometimes even a different country.
Growing Popularity
For some, being able to use a time bank for some services can simply be a relief on their bank account. For others, though, it can make the difference between getting something they need and having to do without. With the economy getting worse and worse, more people are losing their jobs and struggling to pay their mortgages. But just because you're faced with unemployment and barely making enough to scrape by, getting the leaky roof fixed doesn't stop being a priority. And going without the service you need is one extra stress you don't need on top of everything else.
As the economy suffers, more and more people are looking for ways to help the people around them and to get the things they themselves need. Time banks are wonderful for doing both of those things. They give users the opportunity to help the needy people in their community while also getting help for themselves. For some, it is an ideal balance between getting and giving. And we can only hope that this concept will continue to grow even when the economy is again on the rise.
About the Author This article was written by Shawn Wilson, a member of the customer support team at Datepad, where we always offer free internet dating. Datepad has a massive directory of informative free dating articles along with a great list of dating site reviews on our dating blog.
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