Read And Respond Some Short On Cash Time Dollars
READ & RESPOND: Thinking Critically
Read “Some Short on Cash Bank on ‘Time Dollars’” carefully. Mark (highlight or underline) any significant points or quotes. After reading, you will write a summary and a response, so as you read, think about what the author is communicating.
Some Short on Cash Bank on “Time Dollars”
By Michael Rubinkam
1 No money? No problem! Pay with time, instead. That’s what Maria Villacreses did when the economy put a hitch in her wedding plans. She used “time dollars” on everything from a wedding-day makeover to an elaborate seven-layer cake. In a modern twist on the ancient practice of barter, people like Villacreses are joining banks to help them get the things they need or want without having to spend cash.
2 In a time bank, members get credit for services they provide to other members, from cooking to housekeeping to car rides to home repair. For each hour of work, one time dollar is deposited into a member’s account, good for services offered by other members. Scores of time banks are being started in hard-hit communities around the nation – and thousands of devotees are helping each other survive tough financial times. “Even though we were planning to do something small and simple, it takes a lot of money, time, and effort. Through time banking, I got a lot of help,” said Villacreses, who belongs to Community Exchange, a 10-year-old time bank in Allentown, Pa., where 500 members offer everything from electrical work to tai chi.
3 As the economy recovers amid stubbornly high unemployment, newer banks with names like “Back on Track” have joined Community Exchange in offering an alternative to cash. Time Banks USA, an advocacy group in Washington, says interest in time banking has surged: About 114 now operate nationwide, with 100 more in early stages of development. Membership fluctuates but is believed to total more than 15,000. “People see time banking as a way to deal with the economic pressures they are feeling, especially in
Read “Some Short on Cash Bank on ‘Time Dollars’” carefully. Mark (highlight or underline) any significant points or quotes. After reading, you will write a summary and a response, so as you read, think about what the author is communicating.
Some Short on Cash Bank on “Time Dollars”
By Michael Rubinkam
1 No money? No problem! Pay with time, instead. That’s what Maria Villacreses did when the economy put a hitch in her wedding plans. She used “time dollars” on everything from a wedding-day makeover to an elaborate seven-layer cake. In a modern twist on the ancient practice of barter, people like Villacreses are joining banks to help them get the things they need or want without having to spend cash.
2 In a time bank, members get credit for services they provide to other members, from cooking to housekeeping to car rides to home repair. For each hour of work, one time dollar is deposited into a member’s account, good for services offered by other members. Scores of time banks are being started in hard-hit communities around the nation – and thousands of devotees are helping each other survive tough financial times. “Even though we were planning to do something small and simple, it takes a lot of money, time, and effort. Through time banking, I got a lot of help,” said Villacreses, who belongs to Community Exchange, a 10-year-old time bank in Allentown, Pa., where 500 members offer everything from electrical work to tai chi.
3 As the economy recovers amid stubbornly high unemployment, newer banks with names like “Back on Track” have joined Community Exchange in offering an alternative to cash. Time Banks USA, an advocacy group in Washington, says interest in time banking has surged: About 114 now operate nationwide, with 100 more in early stages of development. Membership fluctuates but is believed to total more than 15,000. “People see time banking as a way to deal with the economic pressures they are feeling, especially in