Freeconomy (n.) A system or range of economic activities based on the free exchange of goods and services.
Next time you are feeling strapped for cash take a look at how Mark Boyle manages.
I first found Mark’s story on The Mother Nature Network and with more and more people talking about how hard times are going to get, it makes sense to start thinking more like Freeconomists.
The actions of Freeconomists like Mark seems far more wholesome than the Freeconomics in the context of the corporate model where there may be a danger of monopolistic markets as corporations attempt to be cash in on ‘free’.
Check out the skill sharing site JustForTheLoveOfOt.org and if you like the idea (explained in the video below) why not sign up? I have.
Interesting. I’m on board with freecycling and freesharing and all that. But it doesn’t really solve any of our societal problems, it just feeds off them. The paradox of the freeconomy is that it can only exist within the framework of a wasteful society – especially regarding food. Whether the movement’s growth will itself be a catalyst for greater change (thereby causing its own extinction), or will just be a way for the wasteful elements to justify themselves has yet to be seen. Probably the best by-product to come of it will be greater socialisation & community cohesion, admittedly mainly within a community of those who already think progressively.
Hi @Sindesign, i hear the same comments ofter relating to freeganism. I think as a society we are hung up on ‘growth’. I feel only the spirit of as you said socialisation & community cohesion needs to grow for us to see a benefit and not the acts or processes leading up to it.It’s a change of mindset that’s needed as ultimately (IMO) ‘Zero Waste’ is what we really need to be striving for.
Absolutely. It seems to me that societal progress has historically been defined by how much of our waste that we get to ignore. Hard to see in practical terms how to get that genie back into the bottle, but I’m glad the freegans etc. are there to highlight it.
Freeconomics is a great idea and personally think the world would be a better a place for. The barter system or as my dad and I do, favours, much nicer way to go. My dad is a great one for doing ‘favours’, if he knows you, likes you or trusts you. He’s plumber, slaterer and gas engineer to trade and I grew up with him doing favours, fixing showers, baths and heating problems but very rarely took money for the work. It would always be ‘that’s one you owe me’ or ‘if I need help with……. I’ll give you a shout’ He’s a great believer that everyone has a skill that can help you when your struggling. If you can help someone help them. I try to follow his example and mostly I do, and you know that I do that already. It’s a much better way to do things, you make friends that way, plus it makes you feel good inside. Try it, you might surprise yourself and someone else.
I am right in the middle of his book ‘The Moneyless Man’ at the moment and it’s brilliant. I find the whole concept fascinating and it’s definitely inspiring me to achieve something similar. Ever since discovering freecycle, which Mark used to gather the equipment needed to embark on his year long experiment, I’ve been addicted and have managed to acquire all the new bits and pieces needed for my new home. In turn I hope the belongings I post on the site are as useful to someone else. This mindset is spreading to a wider audience and that can only be positive, although I hear your points about the paradox of the freeconomy – more likely we’ll face our own extinction first though!
@TookieBunten I’ll vouch for you ‘do favours’ policy.. 🙂
Hi Beth, thanks for the comment. I too like freecycle but find it a nightmare to use. I can’t wait for someone to build a freecycle app which is well overdue.
@Documentally nevermind a freecycle app, lets build a favours app by using favours? ;)Sent from my iPhone