so what's this justXchange idea all about then?

justXchange is about developing a network of people who want to build their community through exchanging skills/services, where rather than valuing what we can offer in terms of money, we value what each person can offer in terms of time. This radical way of valuing people means that in this alternative economy everyone is valued equally.

At its basic level justXchange is about spending an hour doing something for another person. Your hour is banked in your account and you can spend this on someone doing something for you. Unlike a barter system where you need to find something to exchange directly with one person, in this time-banking based idea, all the hours you earn and spend on exchanges are centrally banked within your account, so there is no need to make a direct exchange.

Through justXchange you can post things you would like to offer others, as well as post things you would like to receive. These ads are all collated in a directory where you can search for things you would be interested in exchanging, whether it is to receive or give. You then contact the person to set up the exchange and in doing so weave another connection. In this economy everyone is both a giver and a receiver.

time bank core values

Time Banks exist to promote exchanges that honour five core values. (adapted from www.timebanks.org)

• Assets: We are all assets.
  Every human being has something to contribute.
• Redefining Work: Some work is beyond price.
  Work has to be redefined to value whatever it takes to encourage all our well-being, revitalize communities, advance social justice, make the planet sustainable. That kind of work needs to be honoured, recorded and rewarded.
• Reciprocity: Helping works better as a two-way street.
  The question: 'How can I help you?' needs to change so we ask: 'How can we help each other build the world we both will live in?'
• Social Networks: We need each other.
  Networks are stronger than individuals. People helping each other reweave communities of support, strength & trust. Community is built upon sinking roots, building trust, creating networks. Special relationships are built on commitment.
• Respect: Every human being matters.
  Respect underlies everything we value. Respect supplies the heart and soul of a healthy community. When respect is denied to anyone, we all are injured. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point.

why 'justXchange'?

The idea is about being involved in creating change and engaging in exchange in equitable and just ways. There is the simplicity of the message: just exchange. There is also the additional meaning of the imperative, as in 'just do it'.

I think this is a brilliant idea. how do I get involved?

how do I join?

Simply sign up here. It's free of charge and it takes only a couple of minutes. We ask for some basic information from you. Some of this will be available for other Xchangers to see, but more sensitive information like your address and phone no. is kept private.

After you have signed up, you will receive a welcome e-mail with a link to activate your account. Click on the link, change your password and you are good to go. (If you don't receive a welcome e-mail, please check your junk mail folder). If you like, you can upload a small photo or picture of yourself.

We encourage you to post things you can offer and things that you are wanting right away, so that you can become active in the community. When you post your first 'offered' ad and when you post your first 'wanted' ad you can invoice the Accountant for an hour for each of these - just a couple little incentives to get you started.

how does it work?

All Xchangers have their own account where they can keep tab of all their exchanges, their hours balance, transactions, bookmark a favourite exchange posting...

Xchangers post ads for things they are offering and wanting. These are posted within the website and can be searched for in the directory. All the ads are searchable using different filters. For example you can search for all the wanted ads or all the offered ads. Alternatively you can look for all the offered ads within Holistic Therapies, or you can see all ads posted by a particular fellow Xchanger.

When you see an exchange you want to do, you click on the ad and get in touch with the Xchanger who has posted it. You then make arrangements that suit you both through your message/email facility. You can choose to exchange phone numbers to do this if you wish.

Once the exchange is complete you need to make the appropriate payments. Your hours will be credited/debited appropriately. You can also then rate and post comments on an exchange.

Hopefully there will be a dynamic network of exchanges that happen across the city, and hopefully you will start to make new connections that help weave community and improve the quality of the lives of all involved.

what can I offer?

Everyone has something to offer, though this is a question a lot of people ask at the start. One way to start seeing what you could offer is to look through the directory and see what others have posted. You may see something others want that you can give.

There is also space in the forum to suggest ideas of things that people may be able to offer.

Here is a list of some ideas that people came up with in previous justXchange gatherings...filing photographs; admin; sorting things around house; cookery classes; music lessons; conversational exchange; language lessons; yoga classes; gardening; wildlife friendly gardening; resource lending; borrow / exchange; clothes alteration; counting change (pennies); cleaning; window washing; DIY; moving furniture/lifting; lifts; proof reading; typing; video skills; profile shots; computer stuff; touching up photos; research; upholstering; massage; hairdressing; waxing; mechanic; plumbing; oil changed; bikes; musician with a good ear; helping song writing; facilitation; baby-sitting; house-sitting; pet-sitting; walking dogs; watering plants; cooking a meal; shopping; card-making; baking cakes; performance; using facilities; event management; running birthday parties; sharing expertise; book-keeping; personal trainer; opportunity to try something...surfing, horse riding; and many more...

how do the payments work?

Everyone has their own time credit balance, which is displayed when they are logged into their account. When an exchange has been completed, there are two ways that payments can be made:

Firstly you can go into your account and pay the person directly who has provided a service for you. You click on 'pay or invoice someone' and enter their username and how much time you are wanting to pay them. Your account is then debited and theirs is credited. They will receive an email letting them know you have paid them.

Secondly you can go into your account and invoice someone for work you have done for them if they have not already paid you. You do this in the same way as above, except that you are sending a invoice instead of paying them. They will receive en email notification that they need to approve your request and when they log in there will be a box where they can click to approve your hours. The hours are then debited/credited accordingly.

what is my blog for?

This is just a space where you can reflect on exchanges you have participated in, wax lyrical about the wonderful massage you have just received, or how you are now fluent in Spanish; talk about what you are offering and how passionate you are about bikes; muse on some of the interesting things that you have been involved in that may provide interest or entertainment to others; promote activities or events that others in the network may be interested in...

...or you may just choose never to visit this part of your account!!

I have some concerns

what if I go into debt?

There is no penalty for having a negative balance within this system, though there is a limit on your account of minus 10 hours. There will be times when you spend more and times when you earn more, but we encourage all to be active participants, both giving and receiving.

It is also possible to gift time to someone, so while there are participants who will be able to give/earn time more easily, there is always the option for them to donate time credits to a fellow Xchanger.

I don't have a lot of free time. I am concerned this will require too much of me

While you are encouraged to be an active Xchanger, you are not required to do a certain number of hours a month. You can do more when you have time, and less when you are busy. Some people will have more time to give than others. Also many of the things you can exchange are things you are already doing in your daily life, and will fit into your schedule with what you are already doing. The idea is that these exchanges enhance your life and an important bonus is that they help us realise that we all have skills that are valued by others. This not only creates a closer sense of neighbourliness but also increases each individual's sense of self worth.

I do this as a business. why would I get involved here?

You may wish to offer things on justXchange that you do not do as a job. However it is also possible that you may offer what you do as a business through justXchange, but you can set yourself a limit of how time you are willing to do through justXchange. For example if you are a working as a massage therapist and trying to run a business, you may decide that you will only do one or two massages a month as exchanges.

Remember that you set your own boundaries of what time you can afford. If someone asks you to do something, it is up to you to negotiate what time suits you both. There is not an obligation to say yes to all requests/offers.

I am going to be out of pocket for the service I am providing

First of all remember that you are in control of what you offer to do. However, while this is a system based on the exchange of time, there are times when it may be appropriate to specify that people will need to pay for part of what is exchangedÉfor example someone is willing to design your website as an Xchanger, but you need to pay for your domain name and hosting; or someone is willing to fix your kitchen sink, but you need to pay for the new parts; or someone is willing to fix your dress, but you need to buy the zipper...you get the idea. Always negotiate what the expectations are before conducting an exchange. Clear and honest communication helps prevent much frustration, hurt and misunderstanding.

what I am offering isn't easily measured by time

The main thing that is being Xchanged are skills or services that can be measured by time. However if you are offering something to exchange that is not easily measured by time, you will need to give it a time value, which you can mention in your posting. If someone wants to exchange what you are offering, then they can pay you the time value.

The time could always be negotiable, but do the negotiation in advance of making the exchange, to ensure everyone is happy with the cost. Remember the idea is to encourage equitable exchanges that enhance people's lives.

you'll never get rid of people using money

The idea is not trying to replace the whole monetary system. However within this system we are seeking to live out different ways of relating to others, and different ways of valuing the skills that we all have.

is it safe?

justXchange is based on the idea of trust and mutual exchange. The vast majority of people you meet online are genuine, and we hope that those who are interested in getting involved in this network will be committed to the values of respect and to the weaving of community. All participants are required to register their real names and contact information, in order that there is some level of reality to the connections - this is not a virtual social network.

However justXchange does not get references or do background checks on participants. We do not take responsibility for your safety. We highly recommend that you use common sense and exercise normal caution when doing exchanges with people you haven't met before. For example if appropriate meet in a public place, make sure someone knows what you are doing or where you are going to be, and if you ever feel unsafe then leave.

If anyone ever has a bad experience please contact the justXchange team to make them aware of the situation. Appropriate action will be taken.

what if someone falsely bills me?

Time Banks are built on mutual respect and trust and this type of thing is very rare. It will usually be when someone has made a mistake and invoiced the wrong member's account. If you think that that someone has falsely billed you for services, try sorting it out with them firstt. If this doesn't work you can contact justXchange and an administrator can straighten things out.

I'm having problems

I signed up, but didn't receive the confirmation e-mail

Please check in your junk mail folder. Sometimes over-zealous spam filters can flag messages from justXchange as junk. We recommend that you add "noreply@justxchange.org" to your e-mail address book to prevent this.

If you still can't find the welcome message, please contact us using the menu at the top of the page and we'll sort it out.

nobody has replied to my posting!

Sometimes there are things that may not be needed at a time, or there may not be anyone able to offer what you are looking for. justXchange can only exchange on the basis of the skills of all who are involved.

Maybe try a new post. What else can you offer? Is there something different you need? And maybe someone will reply next week?

I can't invoice someone because they don't have enough credit

justXchange allows members to go up to 10 hours overdrawn. If an invoice or payment would take someone more than 10 hours overdrawn, the system will not permit it. If you have done some work for someone but are unable to invoice them, please contact the Accountant. We'll sort it out for you.

Credit limits will be reviewed on a regular basis.

I have invoiced someone, but they paid me directly

If someone pays you directly rather than paying your invoice, simply delete the invoice. You can do this from 'my statement' (under 'my hours' on the left).