What is Timebanking?
Ultimately designed to increase our individual and community well being, timebanking is a system of exchange without the use of money. When you give an hour of service to another you receive one time credit which is tracked in our software. You can use time credits, in turn, to receive goods and services from another member.
Timebanking is a form of community building. It allows us to turn to and rely on each other. Rather than solving every need or problem with money we build social capital and friendships in the process of exchanging with each other.
An hour of service is always one time credit, regardless of the service performed.
The one to one rule is rooted in the idea that regardless of the values placed on the different types of work in the regular market economy, we share a fundamental equality as human beings and everyone’s time is equally valuable.
Who We Are
We are a member-ledgroup of like-minded people that do neighborly favors for each other and for our community. Time credits are received for doing these tasks and recorded by members in an online database. Those time credits received can then be used for services that another member has listed, or can be echanged for goods that are offered.
Our Mission
Our mission is to support the growth of a time-based community that teaches its members to exchange goods and services without the exclusive use of cash.
Our Vision
We envision a city where the time and resources of all people are equitably valued as an asset.
Our Core Values
OUR COMMUNITY REVOLVES AROUND THE FIVE CORE VALUES OF TIMEBANKING, WHICH ARE:
- ASSETS – Everyone has something to give. We are an asset-based society. Everyone’s time is valued equally. We are the expression of abundance and we share what we LOVE to do with others.
- RE-DEFINING WORK – The consumption based market economy says the more demand there is on a product or service, the higher the cost or value of that item; and conversely, things which are plentiful have little or no value. We value ALL work here, expecially work that money doesn’t usually pay for, like; building strong families, revitalizing neighborhoods, making democracy work, neighborly favors and advancing social justice. Time is our currency. Time spent exchanging is what is recorded, or credited.
- RECIPROCITY – Each exchange is a two-way street with both a giver and a receiver. You can’t give without someone receiving. We value both giving and receiving equally. We practice reciprocity in our community by making sure we give AND receive on a regular basis. A one-way extension of resources is not always sustainable.
- COMMUNITY – A supportive, loving community, or social capital, is build through the equitable sharing of goods and services.
- RESPECT – Just like assets, above, EVERYONE deserves respect and everyone is respected for where they are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point in time.
♦ These core values listed above are St. Pete Timebank’s adaptation of the 5 Core Values from Timebanks.org
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Contact us if you have any questions:
Email: stpetetimebank@gmail.com