Build Community, Save Cash and Reduce Waste: the New Sharing Economy
On a single planet with seven billion people, we simply don’t have the raw materials for everyone to own one of everything. Enter Collaborative Consumption, the hot new eco-term for something we all learned to do a long time ago: Share.
There are many ways you're already sharing if you've ever shopped at a local thrift store, traded on craigslist, checked out a book at the library, or just borrowed a ladder from your neighbor. But thanks to social networking technologies, a rising need for community, environmental consciousness and old-fashioned frugalism, sharing is taking off in a new way and redefining our consumption-driven economy.
There are tons of services and sites out there to help you share, lend, barter, discover, connect and more. Here is a pretty good list of our favorites. Find even more at the Collaborative Consumption website. Enjoy and let us know if you find more great tools and sites.
And of course, share what you find with your friends!
Local
Your public library: Still a great place to borrow books, DVDs, CDs and more
ReSource Tool Library: Hand, electric and gas powered tools as well as classes
B-Cycles: Rental bikes in and around Boulder and Denver
eGo Car Share: For Boulder and Denver, including CU
craigslist: Online local classfieds for items, jobs and more
Tour de Thrift: Guide to secondhand stores in Boulder and Longmont
Online
Clothes, Accessories and Fashion
threadUP: Moms trading outgrown clothes for kids
SwapStyle: Clothes and shoes from around the world
I-ELLA: Buy, swap, sell or rent high end fashions
Bigwardrobe: Swap, exchange or buy unlimited fashions
Patagonia Common Threads: Buy or sell reusable Patagonia clothing
Bag Borrow or Steal: Rent handbags, jewelry and more for a week or a season
Dig N Swap: Swap fashionable clothing and accessories
Rent the Runway: Dresses and accessories for rent
Art
turningArt: Try out, rent or even buy independent art
Artsicle: Rent, exchange or purchase art
Books (and textbooks), DVDs and Games
PaperBackSwap: Trade paperbacks, audio books, textbooks, hardcover books and more
eBookFling: Trade audio ebooks for Kindle and Nook
Chegg: Buy, sell and rent textbooks
CampusBookRentals: Buy, sell and rent textbooks
BookRenter: Rent textbooks
CollegeBookRenter: Rent and sell textbooks
ConsumerAffiars: Lists textbook rental companies and reviews
GaBoom: Trade and swap games
Pleygo: A "Netflix" like services for Legos for kids of all ages
Anything & Everything
yerdle: Share stuff with friends using your social networks
Zaarly: Buy and sell what you need from people around you
Couchsurfing: Find or post a place to stay or a local experience
Airbnb: Find a place to stay or rent out extra space worldwide
Swap: Post, browse and trade just about anything
Hey, Neighbor!: Connect with neighbors to ask a favor, lend a hand, share news, or share, buy or sell nearby
NeighborGoods: Share stuff with neighbors and friends in your area
Skillshare: Learn from experts in your community and share your own knowledge and skills
Uniiverse: Platform for all collaborative living activities
Visit the Collaborative Consumption website for more programs and ideas.
