How it works


What are some examples of a Timebanking exchange system at work?

  • Your child is having difficulty in algebra. Through the TimeBank, you find a qualified math teacher to assist her, and in turn provide bookkeeping work for a local self-employed graphic artist.
  • You work four hours a month helping to clean up river and stream systems in your watershed, and donate your hours to a local environmental non-profit, enabling them to hire the services of a designer to create a new website for their cause.
  • Your local farmer needs help weeding his land during the growing season. You work alongside a core group of ten volunteers once a month for an entire growing season to help with this task. This volunteer effort generates enough time-dollar credits to allow you to bring in a cabinetmaker to help you create built-in bookshelves for your home.
  • Your church coordinates volunteers through the TimeBank to help elderly members prepare meals and drive them to appointments during the week.
  • Your local Transition Town group coordinates volunteers through the TimeBank to assist people in your community to weatherproof and winterize their homes to help save money during the cold season.

Below are some examples of things people commonly provide. This list, however, is not exhaustive. Add your own skills and passions to the list!

  • Childcare
  • Cooking & sewing
  • Hair & beauty
  • Housekeeping/Chores
  • Pet care
  • Respite care
  • Clean-up/recycling
  • Community service
  • Fundraising
  • Special projects
  • Work for social change
  • Complementary therapies
  • Counseling
  • Diet & nutrition
  • Fitness & exercise
  • Medical services
  • Yoga/Meditation
  • Classes & tutoring
  • Crafts
  • Entertainment
  • Lessons
  • Photo & video
  • Theater
  • Car care
  • Carpentry/Construction
  • Electrical
  • Garden & yard work
  • Painting
  • Plumbing
  • Errands
  • Transportation of all kinds
  • Helping someone with Email
  • Home visits
  • Medical errands
  • Telephone calls
  • Lending books & videos
  • Advocacy
  • Computers/Technology
  • Languages/Translation
  • Personal finances
  • Clerical & Computer support
  • Financial
  • Legal
  • Marketing
  • Research
  • Odd Jobs