Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned resourcefulness? It’s somewhere in our DNA, but it’s been buried by decades of convenience and takeout. Well, it’s time to bring it back, to think, “Yeah, I can do that.” That’s what the “Get It Started” series is all about.
This month we’re building some community spirit while at the same time checking off some long-standing items on our chore list. We’re going to start a neighborhood rental network (well, actually, you are). But rather than being headquartered in Old Man Gunther’s garage, this one will exist in cyberspace, where it’ll be a snap to use and manage. Here’s how to get one up and running in the time it takes to pick up the phone, call a friend, and say, “Hey, would you happen to have a wheelbarrow I can borrow for the weekend?”
Start small. Think of three or four other families in your immediate area that you’re friendly with and who are trustworthy. Make sure they also have a lot of useful stuff. That’s important. The whole point of this is to make their stuff your stuff, and vice versa.
Access Google Docs. To set this up, try using an online program called Google Documents. If you already use Gmail, then simply click “Documents” at the top of your home page (or the tab “More” and scroll down until you find it). If you don’t have a Google account, then go to google.com, click “Sign In,” then “Create an Account Now,” and follow the prompts.
Build your rental menu. Open a Google spreadsheet document and type in seven headings: Lender’s Name, Contact Info, Items to Lend, Borrower’s Name, Contact Info, Date Borrowed, Date Due Back. List all the things you’re willing to loan under Items to Lend.
Recruit others. Click the Share button at the top of the spreadsheet, remembering to name the file if you haven’t done so already (i.e., Neighborhood Rental Network). Then invite other families to view and add their stuff to it, making sure to explain the concept in a brief message. (“We’ll save money and get things done!”)
Start lending. Once everyone has completed the spreadsheet, go for it! The beauty of this setup is that anyone in the network can access and amend the list at any time. It’s a “live” document. And because there is a specific date given for who checked out an item, there’s a public record in case anything goes missing, gets damaged, or is borrowed for too long. In that respect, it polices itself.
Expand the network. If, after a few weeks or months, things are working well, then consider expanding your rental network by turning the “participants” into “collaborators” (simply click that button on the spreadsheet) and allowing them to share the document with others. Who knows? Before long, you may never need to buy or rent anything again.
Comments from Members
Great idea, we already do this in our neighborhood. It is mostly us lending to neighbors since my husband is a contractor and has tools of all sorts. It gets confusing who has what. The Google spreadsheet will make everything easier for everyone!!!!
This is a great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!But I think they need to put up something for collateral.Thanks
This is a great idea. We live in a large neighborhood and there is always someone working on their home.
I am interested to hear if anyone has done this yet, and if so how is it working out?
if my neigbor need a ladder or a helping hand i am there to help from my heart an that me i love to help people; but some time people try to miss use you an take you for granted.by linda b
I think it is a good I idea, but there needs to be some kind of deposit in case something is damage, or missing.
Sounds really very interesting. Will consider trying it.
Sounds good. I could use an extra husband to do my chores, since mine is deployed. LOL! I wonder if that would be available on the list.
I think it would be a good Idea. It would also help bring neighbors together. Where I live you don't talk to your neighbors much everybody stay to themselves.
i have wonderful neighbors and they are so helpful when i was moving in, it had snowed and my neighbor shoveled snow so we could into the house hes always there when i need help and very thoughtful thanks PETE1 and he will loan anything
My family has always been this way. We share everything with our nieghbors. We live on a 200 acre farm in Wva. We even shared are garden with our neighbor.The nieghbor has a key to my dads tractor. Thats what being neighbor is all about. We was always taught that. And when it comes to needing help the community always comes togeather. When its hay season everyone goes around to each hay field helping his fellow nieghbors bail and hawl hay. We even still have barn rAISING. a few years back my neighbor needed a garage and we all chipped in and helped. It give you a warm feeling to help someone. What happened to communication in community?. :( Even now im adult and live away from the farm I still im the same. My neighbors and I trade,barrow,and straight out give things. My dog is a picky eater. So if a buy something and my dog wont eat it I give it to my neighbor. We are defintly resourceful and we save tons of money this way.
This sounds like a great idea, but you cannot trust very many people in my neighborhood. There really is only one family on the whole block that I would trust. I would rather just go rent the tool I need from the local Ace Hardware.
I am lucky, my next door neighbor is my brother. We bought the lawnmower and they bought the snowblower and we swap.
Me and my neighbors share everything, tools, plants, pet needs, and even children's tylenol and band aids!
This is a great idea I can live with, but a couple of our neighbor's are allway's helping each other out. But this is away to even get to know other neighbor's better and bring a community closer togeather, at this day and time every-one can use a little help . Thanks Again Vocalpoint, Debra W.
Our neighborhood does this unofficially. We've borrowed lawnmowers, hand tools, matches...everything! I love the idea of more organization, though.
Wonderful idea! The spreadsheet idea would definitely come in handy!
Great idea
I am a single mother and so is my neighbor, we swap tools, dinners (about once a week one cooks dinner for both families), babysitting, labor, dogsitting, and just about anything that each other needs. We have learned a lot from each others unique skills and talents, and have we have saved tons of money! I wish we had more neighbors participating.
My neighbors and I barter eveything from stuff around the house cooking to babysitting. Her son will clean off my roof if I will babysit for them to go shopping. every six months or so we have a yard sale whick usually turns in to a swap meet . lol
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST IDEAS I HAVE READ..CERTAINLY WE COULD DO MANY, MANY MORE OF OUR OWN REPAIRS AND SAVE MONEY WITH THIS IDEA...THANKS
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST IDEAS I HAVE SEEN. CERTAINLY THIS WILL SAVE US MONEY IN PURCHASES AND LABOR...OUTSTANDING IDEA...COMMUNITY WORKS!!!!!
I love Vocal Point!!! I get more use out of this website than any other! Vocal point IS my 411....my dictionary! I really think that after being a member for 2 years ( i had to start my account over when i moved) I would feel lost without VP and i find myself anxious to check my mail and email. Every sample i have received from VP has prompted me to go out and buy full size products. What a smart way to advertise!!!! Please VP, never change or go away...I would be lost!! 
~Paige.
i like vocalpoint becauce they talk about subj ,tips about things life situations etc.they also give tips and you get to see moms talk about situation they go to on a daily basic the samples to try to see how prodec is going to work that is fantastic.thank you vocalpoint.
Love the Spreadsheet idea. It does get difficult if you lend out several things at the same time.
