The Ultimate Barter

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Linda Blossom, reading/math tutor

I think the HOURS system works very well. You've got a lot of old hippies here in Ithaca, as well as many young new hippies. There are so many countercultures in every age group, plus cross cultures with all of the universities here. What the system has to do now is come out of the alternative community a little more.

I think it's starting to—I looked the other day and saw a listing in Ithaca Money of a lawyer that I know, as well as a dentist. The system is definitely starting to get more mainstream. It was also especially hard in the beginning when people didn't have a lot of HOURS and none of us wanted to let go of them. But as long as people have a way to go around and use the HOURS for necessities after accepting them, then the currency will make sense and it'll work.

In Ithaca you have so many people working for themselves, doing everything from massage to painting to auto repair. This was probably the best community to try it out in. In Ithaca people are making money with their own skills and their own wits. We've got a lot of people who are self-employed here. When you're working for yourself, you look for any way you can to save money. Even by just using HOURS, you're saving money because you usually don't go out and spend the HOURS frivolously.

Michael Turbacks, Owner of Turback's Restaurant

Our restaurant is successful and we've always had a wide range of customers, from the president of Cornell University to the local folks in town. What attracted us to the Ithaca HOURS was the fact that we could bring in a whole new group of people—those with an alternative lifestyle. When we started a year ago, we were in a recessionary time, and this was a good way to help build up our business. We've also gotten to show people that we're not a special occasion restaurant—we're an everyday restaurant.

Right now, I'd say that at least one customer a night pays with HOURS, and we've taken in several thousands so far. It's a fun way to do business. When people call and find out we accept HOURS, you can practically hear them smile over the phone. Plus, when I look in the register at night, an HOUR seems far more attractive to me than a $10 bill. It's a real honest money.

Swapping Successes

Along with the list of goods and services offered, Paul also publishes several of the members' success stories in each issue of Ithaca Money. Below are some actual samples.

Eileen has received HOURS as donation for wildlife rehabilitation. When looking for a baby-sitter on the list she "met the most wonderful person. She does child care in exchange for house and garden work." This allowed Eileen to pursue her college degree. "Without Ithaca Money, 1992 would have been much more difficult. Being able to trade makes life easier, and it's fun. I've given away 1/4 HOURS to friends who are fascinated with the idea. I've even bought Girl Scout cookies with HOURS, from a scout who needed them for music lessons."

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