Swapping skills - online and locally - Swapaskill.com

"When our personal finances are under pressure the first things to go are the luxuries - fewer nights out, cancelling the gym membership and cutting back on the little things that make life more pleasant." (BBC)

Swapaskill is an online community of giving, sharing, fun and friendship where people make friends and swap favours and we're delighted to let you know that you can also now swap items! It's a place that nurtures community spirit and a genuine caring for the environment - and it's all completely free!

Official website: http://www.swapaskill.com/

Swapaskill @Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/swapaskill/

Firstly remember the spirit of exchanging favours; it's about doing a favour for a friend and when you enter into that spirit, you'll find that swapping skills is an easy, fulfilling and joyful experience.

Here are some tips to help you:

Step 1. Develop your profile and register your own skills and items.

Not sure what skills you've got to offer as favours? Think about anything you enjoy and are good at. It could be gardening or DIY, or you might be good at art and can create a painting for someone.  Think also about how you can use your skills to do favours, so for example you might be a good cook and can offer dinner parties or meals that can be frozen, or teach someone to cook. Or you might like driving and can offer chauffeuring, lifts to the airport or lifts back from the pub. You can also register your professional skills if you wish and you can now register items you would like to swap.

Step 2. Search for people offering things you're interested in.

Go to SEARCH SKILLS/ITEMS at the top of the site and search for people in the geographical area of your choice.

As long as you save your searches, the system will bring up those members who have the skills you're looking for and other members who are looking for your skills.

Remember that many people will be willing to consider swapping their skills in exchange for different things so if they've got something you're interested in message them and see if they're interested.

Step 3. Message the person and build a friendship

When you feel ready you can exchange contact details and chat about doing each other a favour.  For example, 'I need my windows cleaning and in exchange I can fix your car'. You can do this via email, phone, Skype or face to face. We suggest you chat on the phone before you meet anyone and make sure you have seen a photograph of them. 

Step 4. Agree together what you think is a fair exchange

Agree timescales for doing the favours for each other. See 'guidelines for a fair exchange' below to help you. To enter into the spirit of friendship and trust, we suggest that when you are deciding on what is a fair exchange, you base it on the time you give each other rather than the market value of your skill. You can do this via email, phone, Skype or face to face. If you’re meeting someone we suggest you speak on the phone first and exchange photos. 

Step 5. Carry out your skill and exchange favours!

We suggest the first time round that you do the favours in stages wherever possible so that you build trust and friendship. So for example if someone is doing up your garden and you're building them a website, you might agree to do a part of the favour and then get together to see how things are progressing. This is particularly important if you’re swapping online as building relationships without meeting tends to take longer. 

If you're swapping an item, you can either meet up to swap it or do it by post.

Step 6. Build your reputation.

If you are happy with the favour that was carried out then write each other a testimonial and give each other a star rating to help you both build your reputation within the community.

Oh and do remember to tell us your stories!

Please note!
This site is for exchanging favours and items only and not for the sale of goods or services. If anyone tries to sell you goods or services, please contact us. However, we do want you to promote yourself and what you can offer and if after doing someone a favour they want to employ your services then that's fantastic!