The Ultimate Barter

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FIR GLOVER

"The HOUR, backed by real people and real skills and goods, is a steady base for barter negotiations."

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

For the currency to work, participants must be willing to put
their faith in each other and realize that everyone's hour of
labor has the same dignity.

Time Is Money: Paul's Q&A

What gives the HOUR its value?

The HOUR is backed by real people, real skills, real tools, and real time and goods. It's a steady base for barter negotiation, and its value increases as the list of traders willing to accept it grows—and as the variety of goods and services grows. Every note is a promise to accept HOURS or represents goods and services traded.

Who can benefit from Ithaca HOURS?

Everyone who needs more spending power and has extra time. Basically, this includes: full-time employees who want a second job on their own schedule, parttime employees, underemployed workers who seek income from their skill, the unemployed, seniors, kids ages 14 and up, business people who want more customers, those who need to pay debts faster, all who want to save up dollars, and anyone who wants to develop a part-time or full-time business.

How many HOURS have been issued and how are they circulating?

By June 1, 1993, 2,000 HOURS had been issued. Some of the most popular stores and services have earned up to 60 HOURS each. Circulation surges when they spend again. The largest purchase we know of so far has been an 18-HOUR carpentry job.

ENJOYING REWARDS:

Some prefer to spend their hard-earned HOURS on indulgences, such as a night of fine dining.

How do community members get Ithaca HOURS?

They receive four HOURS when they sign up and agree to accept them for goods and labor. Everyone starts with the same number. Then they mail the coupon on the back cover of the newspaper or sign up at one of the Barter Potlucks, which are announced in the paper.

These bimonthly potluck dinners are prepared by and for members, so they can sit together and discuss the direction they'd like to see the currency go. You can earn more HOURS by calling someone on the list who needs what you offer, by agreeing to a request for your labor or goods, or by providing goods or services to Ithaca organizations that have received HOUR grants.

Can members spend HOURS with someone who is not signed up to barter?

Sure, if they'll accept them.

What happens if someone's time or product is so popular that they accumulate more HOURS than they can use?

People should spend them as they get them, so they don't pile up. We ask that you keep them moving and let others use them.

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