For existing members

(If you are not yet a member, please join first!)

Quick Links for members: Log in to the CES — Sign up to volunteer

Welcome to your local time bank!

In the time bank, the goal is for everyone to thrive. We believe that when people band together, we can become our own safety net, protecting each other from the challenges of this era. We are excited to have you join! Please check out our Theory of Change, to learn how we are understanding time banking as part of enacting sociopolitical change.

Your first day— Here’s how to get started: (click to expand)

1— Log in to the CES software. mobi.community-exchange.org. Your user name and password were emailed to you when you signed up to create an account. If you did not see this email, please check your spam folder. If you still can’t find it, please email admin@ringsnetwork.org

2— Bookmark the CES software page. The feed is constantly being updated, and every transaction will happen there, so we hope you visit it daily! Note: we do not yet have an app, so you must visit the time bank software through a browser. We have no way to send notifications at this time (although the developers are working on it!), so you must remember to check it manually.

3— Learn how to use the CES software. We have a list of written tips here, and we have a YouTube playlist showing how to use the software. If you run into any questions, please email admin@ringsnetwork.org!

4— Make at least two offer posts. If you feel stuck about what to post, some helpful tips are listed in the section below.

5— Make at least two want posts. Let your community know how they can help you. The time bank is about giving and receiving. Suggestions are in the section below.

6— Start trading with your neighbors using Rings! Do not worry that your balance is zero to start. You can still “buy” things right away. A negative balance is not stigmatized; it is simply a promise to pay it forward sometime in the future. Respond to an offer or want post either by email or phone to begin the transaction.

—> Make it your goal to “buy” at least one item in the time bank in your first week! <—

7— Check the feed every day! A robust marketplace and community can only occur if there is enough “traffic.” Log in daily, make as many posts as you can, respond to the posts of others, and let’s keep those Rings circulating!

🎉Starting gift for new members! 🎉

Once you post at least 2 offers and 2 wants, and you “purchase” at least one item or service from the time bank, we will send you a bonus 60 Rings!

How do Rings work?

The “currency” of the time bank is based on time. We call it “Rings,” and 1 Ring = 1 Minute, and 1 Ring is worth approximately 1 Dollar (using “garage sale” logic).

All services are worth 60 Rings per hour. Do not charge more or less than that for your time.
Items should be “priced” with what we call “garage sale logic” — as if you are trying to get them to sell quickly at a garage sale. You could also ask yourself: “What would this item cost at Walmart in 1990?” 😅 We are trying to help each other through a hard time; this is not about profit.

If you have questions about how to “price” something you are thinking about posting, feel free to email admin@ringsnetwork.org

Breaking the ice is the hardest part. Once you jump in and start trading, you will get the hang of it!

Writer's block??? It can be intimidating to write your first post. Don’t worry, it’s normal! Please read the sections below if you feel like you don't know what to write in your posts!

I don’t know what I can offer (click to expand)

Our main hangup is that we think we have to be professionally certified in order to post anything. We think our value only lies in what The Mainstream System is willing to pay us money for… as in our professional jobs. That’s just not true. You have many skills and talents, which are “unofficial,” but which could still really help someone!

You don’t have to be a licensed contractor to help someone repair their leaking faucet… maybe your dad taught you some basic repair skills when you were a kid, and you are pretty handy.
You don’t have to have a degree in computer science to help someone learn to use Photoshop… maybe you’ve taught yourself how to use it over the years.
You don’t have to be a professional baker to make a mean chocolate chip cookie. Maybe you’ve always loved baking and have built your skills over the years, trying hundreds of different recipes and finding the best ones.
You don’t have to be a licensed social worker to help someone navigate the process of getting a 504 plan for their special-needs child. Maybe you have gone through it yourself, and you learned the hard way what to do and not do.

And so on! Many people’s minds go blank when they are put on the spot and asked to talk about themselves, so here are a few ideas, and a few tricks to help you brainstorm:

💡Host a group. We have a loneliness crisis in our country, and we need more opportunities to get together in real life. You can organize and host a group (either at your home or a local “third space,” such as a library), and accept small donations in Rings from the attendees, to compensate you for your efforts. We have put together a kit with full instructions for how to host a group:

Check out our group host kit here!

💡We especially anticipate a high need for food. If you are fortunate enough to be able to afford food, I’m sure a lot of people would appreciate it if you could exchange some of your extra food supplies on the time bank.

💡 Hates and Loves Exercise. Think through your experiences with people... Everyone has something that they hate to do, which other people don’t mind. For example:

I hate painting, but a lot of people find it relaxing.
Some people hate washing dishes, but I actually enjoy it.
I hate cooking, but a lot of people love it.

I bet there is something that you enjoy (or at least that you don’t mind), which other people absolutely hate. Most people would gladly pay someone to do the things they hate, if they had the means. What is that thing for you? Write it down.

💡Hobbies. Have you spent considerable time working on a hobby? Maybe you could help someone who’s just getting started. Every activity has common pitfalls and mistakes that newbies always fall into. Maybe you can help someone avoid those mistakes, or guide them to continue when they feel overwhelmed.

💡Physical items. If you have extra items lying around your home, perhaps you could exchange them on the time bank. Furniture, clothing, kitchen appliances, office supplies… the possibilities are endless.

I don’t know what to write as a Want post (click to expand)

Think about this: you might have something in your closet that someone else wants. But you wouldn’t know about it unless they said they wanted it! For you, that item in your closet has been forgotten, and you’d never think to put it on the market unless someone asked. But if someone says they need it… now you know. Now you can help meet someone else’s needs. That’s the power of communication.

People tend to be scared to put themselves out there as “needing” something. Writing wants is scary because it makes us feel vulnerable. But it’s important to have an equal amount of Want posts as we have Offer posts.

If you’re feeling stuck, grab some paper and ask yourself:

💡What would make my life easier right now? (write it down)

💡What are some things I hate doing, which other people enjoy? For example, I hate mowing the lawn, but other people find it relaxing. I hate washing windows, but some people find it very satisfying. Since we aren’t using real money, we can afford to “splurge” and “pay” other people to do things we dislike! It helps your neighbor feel useful, so it’s a win-win!

💡What goals do I have which feel challenging? Making a budget? Learning a new skill? Getting organized? Maybe one of your neighbors has skills that can help you.

💡What items are on my current shopping list? What am I about to spend money on? What if I tried to find those in the timebank first, before running to the corporate big box store?

Here are a few more ideas:

My car is broken, and I need help with rides to work.
My sink is leaking, and I need help fixing it.
I’m trying to eat healthier, but I don’t have time to prepare meals the way I’d like.
There’s a pile of mess in a corner of my house that could use some organizing.
My toaster broke, and I need a new one.
I need help navigating the IEP process at my kids’ school.
My clothes don’t fit right, and I’d love a tailor to help me achieve a polished look.
I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the piano.

What’s Not Allowed (click to expand)

Anything legal may be posted on the feed. However, we do not allow:

Trading actual Dollars for Rings
Anything related to cryptocurrency
Businesses to post their items. This is to protect the businesses from tax problems. The time bank is for individual-to-individual transactions only.

Allowed, but exercise caution: (click to expand)

If you are thinking about “renting out” or “leasing” space in exchange for Rings, please understand that you will not have legal protection from any liabilities. We are not actually exchanging Dollars, so you are not actually leasing your property. It is more like letting a friend stay at your home. If something goes wrong, you may have no legal recourse.

Questions?

Send an email to admin@ringsnetwork.org

We would love your help to keep the time bank going!

Please check out our volunteer page for current opportunities.

If you don’t have time to volunteer, you can still help! We would love it if you could spread the word to people you know who share our vision. We would like to start time banks across the nation, and we currently have waiting lists in multiple states. So please send our website to everyone you know:

www.ringsnetwork.org

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