“Saint Exchange” lets students trade for goods

Project Officer for Transition University of St Andrews, Paul White, and his team of coordinators have founded the “Saint Exchange,” St Andrews’ first local exchange trading scheme.

The scheme lets students and townspeople trade skills, time, or other forms of non-currency in exchange for things they need or want. It may sound too good to be true, but it essentially means that you can trade your time to mow someone’s lawn, in exchange for them playing taxi driver when you go out in Dundee next week. That is an equation that always comes out positively.

To participate in the project, those interested create a profile on the site, which includes a “wants” and “needs” list. Each member has a page of a searchable directory displaying these lists, and can approach each other individually to trade. The site already claims approximatley 50 participants, about 35 of them students or staff. The team is also busy selling the idea to local businesses – fan favorite “Curiosity” has already signed up.

The lead organizer (White) said of the project: “It is not economically viable in a global financial market, but all you have to do is look at small towns in the UK. It generates wealth locally, keeps the economy busy, and promotes skill share.”

To learn more about the business and sign up, check it out here!

Image courtesy of st-andrews.co.uk