Time banking is a way for communities to capture value without monetary cost through the recognition of individuals’ skills and time by the use of an indirect time-tracking instrument. Active engagement in time banking partnerships can enable members of a community to grow their personal networks, make lasting friendships, gain…
Category: Finance and Economy
Exploring everything financial and alternative finance
Is Modern Society Just a Giant Ponzi Scheme?
The Ponzi scheme involves a cycle of paying returns to early investors with funds obtained from newer investors, perpetuating the illusion of profitability. These schemes inevitably collapse when the influx of new money slows, making it impossible to continue meeting promised returns. When one looks at the foundations of modern…
If It’s Worth Doing, It’s Worth Doing Well: Is Less Actually More?
There’s an old saying that insists, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” This sentiment comes to us today from a time when quality was actually important, when craftsmanship was appreciated, and when people took pride in building and creating things that would last. But with the rise of…
You Can’t Help Those Who Won’t Help Themselves
In our communities we see that ever-increasing needs is becoming the norm – many of them urgent – and community service and outreach programs strive to selflessly meet those needs, offering resources to those struggling to make ends meet. The intention behind such programs is simple: to provide assistance, support,…
Why Interconnectedness Should be More than Just an Internet Thing
We are all very familiar with the fact that the world has become, in one very big way, smaller. With the bursting onto the scene of the internet in the late 90s, we have all become connected and interconnected in a way that could never have been imagined just a…
How to Make Every Penny Count When You’re Counting Pennies
In these times of growing economic uncertainty, making every penny count is more than just a good idea- it should be a lifestyle. As the economic situation around the world continues to become more and more concerning, the once maligned idea of frugality is turning into something of a necessity…
From Economic Collapse to a Cooperative Future: Why Time Co-Ops and Time Banking is the Insurance We Need
Throughout history, societies have experienced numerous economic collapses and systemic breakdowns, some of which left governments and monetary systems in disarray. In such times, communities often turned to alternative economies – bartering, mutual aid networks, local currencies, time co-ops and time banks, etc. – to sustain themselves when conventional markets…
Exploring the Many Facets of Wealth Beyond Money
When we hear the word “wealth,” our minds often jump to thoughts of money, investments, and material possessions. This form of wealth is universally recognized and celebrated as a symbol of success and security. For many, it represents a dream to chase, a goal to achieve, and a state of…
Don’t Hate the Player, Hate the Game; Insights into the Hustle Economy and the End of the Middle Class
The “hustle economy” refers to a labor market characterized by people working multiple jobs, gigs, or side hustles, often independently or on a freelance basis, to earn a living or supplement their primary income. It’s driven by the rise of digital platforms (like Uber, Fiverr, or Etsy) that connect workers…
The Access Economy and the Future of Ownership
The access economy, also known as the sharing economy or renter economy, may represent a fundamental shift in how goods and services are consumed. In this economic and social model, individuals would rent or subscribe to access rather than purchasing items outright. This change would be a radical departure from…