How Timebanking Works

Timebanking can be seen as an extension of your family. Someone who loves to cook and share their food can cook a home meal for you during a difficult time of your extended visits to the hospital. Timebanking is a way for people to fill a gap of what they're missing, whether it's a necessity or quality of life. And your life is enriched because you are offering something you love to do. And you are doing it for time credits which you offer to someone else to help them enrich their life. It's true, everyone has something to offer!

What can you offer? Offer whatever it is that you really enjoy doing. Tutoring, shopping, housekeeping, art lessons, giving rides for errands or to the potluck... the possibilities are limitless. And it doesn't cost anyone anything to do it; all it takes is compassion and a bit of your time. We trade time with each other, so it's neighbors helping neighbors. The Timebank is a place where you can find those who know what you need, and you can pay them with Timebank currency that's easy to earn.

Timebanking has software that keeps track of all the hours for its members, making it simple to use. It's one of the best community-building organizations in the country. Step into the gap and help people help one another!

Timebanking Builds Community

Timebanking can change your life! You see, Timebanking helps to build community in many ways, but one of the greatest ways it helps people is creating caring interactions with those who are alone. What is it like for a shut-in to receive a call during a storm? What happens to you when someone on the other end of the phone asks "Are you OK?", "Is your power on?" "What do you need?" This is an assurance that money can't buy; an invaluable way that people connect. This is how Timebanking builds community.

When people get out of the house, when they know they can go to another's home during a power outage, or depend on another for a ride, they have a renewed sense of humanity. And as people use their Timebank credit hours when they need to, they feel good about the exchanges they make. They're paying for a service from their account of earned Timebank credit hours. Personal self-esteem grows and faith in other people grows too. And best of all, they gained their Timebank credit hours doing the things they love doing! The Timebank helps people get to know their neighbors and their neighborhood, so they feel less isolated; they feel respected and connected. All for Timebank hours!

The Idea of Cooperation

Timebanking is based on the principle of cooperation. This involves people working together for mutual benefit.

Our market economy is based on people using money to exchange things. Money is useful, but markets don't recognize most of our real value. In a market economy, "value" is based on scarcity. If something is scarce it has a high price. If something is commonly available it has a low price. But many things that people value most — caring, learning, sharing, socializing, raising children, being a good neighbor — are not valued highly in the marketplace.

The Five Core Values of Timebanking

We are all assets! We all have something valuable to give. We have enough, if together, we use what each of us has. Ninety percent of what you are able to do may never appear on a resume, but it can be very valuable to someone else.

Re-evaluating Work Some work is valuable beyond price - and that work needs to be recognized and rewarded. Everyone benefits when we work to raise healthy children, strengthen neighborhoods, build strong families, live sustainability, and foster social justice.

Reciprocity Helping works better as a two-way street. When we create a reciprocal system, we honor each other's value by receiving what they have to offer. We create value by accepting the service of others. Others can't give unless someone receives.

Respect Every human being matters; there are no throw-away people. Respect underlies freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and everything we value. Respect is the blood supply for the heart and soul of democracy. In Timebanking, an hour of time pulling weeds is honored the same as an hour of an attorney's time crafting a will.

Social Networking Our social infrastructure of relationships with one another is as essential as a systems infrastructure of roads, bridges, and utility lines. When people help each other they also reweave communities of support, strength, and trust. Social networking builds commitment with each another and in Timebanking, commitment is part of every exchange. We need each other, and networks are stronger than individuals.

Member Policies

New Members Depending on the local Timebank you join, new members may participate in an orientation meeting at their neighborhood or community Timebank to complete the application process, learn about the exchange software, and gather ideas to make Offers and Requests. Members earn time credits for attending orientation.

Time Credits and Negative Balances Our goal is to encourage the reciprocity of all parties, thereby contributing to the overall effectiveness of the Timebank. At times, both individual and organizational members may have negative balances. But as exchanges are the life-blood of the Timebank, we encourage members to make exchanges even if their balance is negative. It will soon turn around!

Young Members Membership is open to all ages. Parent or guardian approval is required for anyone under 18, and the parent or guardian is responsible for determining if sufficient supervision is provided for the minor for any exchange. The parent or guardian can choose to allow the minor to have their own Timebank account, or can have the minor share their account. We can also setup a guardian in the software so that they may monitor all of the content created by or received by the member in question.

Timebank Group Events When neighborhood or community Timebank members hold classes or group events, they earn one time credit for each hour they put into the class or event — in preparation, running the class or event, and in doing the after-class or after-event work. If a number of members turn up, each paying in time credits for the time they participate, there will an excess of time credits — and the excess will go to the sponsoring Timebank.

Member Contributions Some local Timebanks have a no dues policy while others' may have annual dues. Most neighborhood or community Timebanks hold fundraisers from time to time and/or accept donations to pay for their websites and the costs of running the Timebank.

How does it work? Using the Timebank is easy: one hour's work = one time credit. You earn credits by doing something for someone else. You use your credits when somebody else does something for you. Timebank members make offers and requests. An offer is something that you can do for someone else. A request is something that you would like someone to do for you. Hours are logged through our online system. This keeps track of all your exchanges, offers and requests.

Timebank Member's Code of Conduct

Timebank members adhere to a simple Code of Conduct, a refinement of the Golden Rule. The Code of Conduct guides members in how to best interact with each other in all their Timebanking interactions.

• Prior to receiving a service, check the competency of the server to deliver that service to an extent that meets your level of comfort.
• Make sure you are clear in all details of the transaction before meeting with your exchange partner, including agreeing on any expenses, which are the responsibility of the recipient of the service. Expenses may include reimbursement for gas or materials required to provide the service, etc.
• Respect your exchange partner's privacy and confidentiality.
• Recognize that offering and receiving a Timebank service is voluntary for your exchange partner and for yourself.
• Respect your exchange partner's home, property and valuables.
• Refrain from smoking in or bringing pets to your exchange partner's home, unless invited to do so.
• Post and maintain at least one offer and one request on the Timebank website with your availability, or if unable to post, work with a fellow Timebanker to help identify your skills and needs and get them posted.
• Communication is key to a successful Timebank, so be timely in answering phone calls and emails.
• Seek out and act on Offers and Requests on the Timebank website that appeal to you.

Orientation

After you have applied for membership in the Timebank, a Coordinator will contact you about your Orientation so that your membership can be activated.

Orientation can be done in several ways: via smart phone, computer, or using Zoom. You can also attend an in person orientation in order to be activated.

Orientations are usually conducted jointly with Tampa Bay Timebank and are held monthly. They are posted on the Upcoming Events of the Spring Hill Timebank member home page.

During Orientation you will be able to Complete your profile and post a picture of yourself. Other members are more likely to respond if they can "see" who you are. However, if you don't want to post a picture, you can use any image you like.

During Orientation you can write an Offer, offering what you love to do, and a Request, asking for something you need. Offers and Requests will activate at the same time as your membership.

You will receive Timebank hours for joining, coming to Orientation, making your first Offer and Request, and for adding your bio and picture. Most new members begin with at least 15 Timebank hours (time credits) in their account! And you will earn hours for every Timebank activity in which you participate!

Partnerships

Partnerships in Timebanking are helpful and important. Individuals and groups in league with each other not only save time and energy, but often strengthen each other. Joining forces where partners help each other in reciprocal services, adds to the success of both groups.

The Spring Hill Timebank partners with the Nature Coast Community Services Foundation which helps the homeless who live in the woods or in cars. The Foundation helps the homeless get out of the woods and get into housing and jobs. Spring Hill Timebank members collect food and clothing for the homeless, as well as help make nutritious meals to help the Foundation meet its commitment of weekly lunch. Timebank members also offer to drive homeless folks to medical and job appointments.

Through this collaboration, we help both the Timebank and the Foundation.

Timebanks in the US and around the world

Use this interactive map to find a time bank near you on the hOurworld.org platform.

Use this community directory to find a time bank near you on the TimebanksUSA platform.

Terms of Service

Timebanking encourages connections between and among community members on the basis that everyone has something to give and everyone has needs.

Timebank members commit to "give and receive" using time credits earned and spent. They follow the "golden rule" of Timebanking: An hour of my time is equal to an hour of your time. One hour of service given earns one time credit. For one hour of service received, pay one time credit.

A commitment to the core values of Timebanking helps people to get into the spirit of Timebanking, and together, members help keep that spirit alive.

Using the Timebank

• Please respond to an offer or request in timely manner. This builds new sharing relationships and strengthens our community.
• When you have decided that a service exchange is appropriate, make specific arrangements (date and time) for the exchange.
• Fulfill the exchange and save a record of it in your hours account.
• Come back and review offers and requests from other members.
• Do this again and again; keep our community alive and flourishing.