Could you use a little help in your life — maybe an afternoon of yard work or math tutoring for your child — but can’t really afford to pay someone for it? Do you also have something to offer, perhaps gardening know-how or plumbing expertise?

Hold on to your hard-earned cash and consider joining a community time bank.

It’s a great way to “pay” for services without spending a dime, while discovering your own otherwise untapped resources and getting to know your neighbors. After all, just because money is tight doesn’t mean we lack economic value — and by eliminating the cash transaction, we’re really just getting back to the roots of a civilized economy.

Here’s how it works: You spend an hour doing something for somebody in the community. This gets “banked” as a Time Dollar in a Web-based database (a time bank). Finally, you “spend” that banked Time Dollar by having someone help you for an hour. It’s really that simple, made feasible by the networking power of the Internet.

And all this promotes sustainability!

Time banking emboldens communities with a powerful economic system that can withstand the shenanigans of Wall Street while sidestepping the perils of debt, creating a truly local and self-organized safety net. That’s the warm and fuzzy, community-building element to time banking — but all you need to know is that time banks are a powerful way to save money in a time of economic uncertainty.

The kinds of services and tasks that can be time banked are limited only to your imagination, and no one’s time is more valuable than another’s, putting all members on an equal footing.

Signing up is simple: Just click on Join Us and fill out the form including some services you would be willing to offer.

After you’ve been accepted as a member and attend Orientation (which includes software training), you may log in to the Pagosa Time Banking site. You’ll see a tally of hours given and hours received, a section with Offers and Requests and more! Don’t be intimidated by having to use new software!

Requests and offers are organized into some of the following categories: arts & crafts, building trades, business & administration, computers, education, entertainment, event production, food, gardening & yard work, gifts, goods, health & healing, home improvement, household services, legal/law, mechanical, transportation, writing and more!

Time banking is a simple yet powerful way to weather tough times while strengthening our local economy. And everyone has something valuable to offer.

Steve Tanner is a writer and journalist living in Ben Lomond with his wife, young daughter, dog and four hens. He is on the steering committee for Transition San Lorenzo Valley, a local nonprofit committed to creating a more sustainable and resilient community.