Global: Share and Share Alike
Sharing is one of the first things that parents teach their children.
Sharing is one of the first things that parents teach their children. One-year-olds are taught that they must share their toys when little friends are visiting. At playschool, sharing is one of the main lessons learned. So why, when it is top of the pops in baby manners, do we not share a thing when we’re older?
If you want to finally listen to your mum’s words and reconsider whether mothers actually are the fountains of all great philosophy, then here are some top tips of sharing and caring.
Bargain Books
Let’s start on an easy one. Books. Banished by the end of my English degree I am now rediscovering the joy of reading. I’ve stumbled across a lovely website where you can trade books, with not a penny changing hands! So if you want to own a new book and want to de-clutter(!) your old stash, then here’s the perfect solution.
Got an old table?
If you like the sound of things even cheaper than trading books, then check out your local freecycle. They are all over the world and it’s about just giving stuff away – its amazing what you can find and whet you can re-home! Freecycle works within local ‘branches’. It’s a great way to not horde things but give away the things you don’t use much to someone who needs it. Then when you need something for nothing you can find it on the website and arrange to pick it up. Genius!
Give someone a lift
From nouns to verbs. Sharing is not just about what you have, but about what you do. There are loads of websites around where you can find a local lift-share network. As with most things ecological, sharing a lift to work saves you money and time as well as helping the environment.
One scheme that I really liked the look of is in San Francisco. ‘City Car Share’ has a huge fleet of all sorts of different cars in locations all over the bay area. The idea is that members of the scheme can book any car at anytime and use it like there own, for an all inclusive hourly rate. It saves all the hidden costs of running a car and also keeps traffic down. Fabulous! Mine’s a soft-top!!
Get a foot on the ladder
Moving on to some of the bigger aspects of life. If you’ve been on planet earth over the past few years you’ll have realised that house prices have soared. In some areas it is impossible now for low income and first time buyers to get their own home. But along with the problem has come a number of solutions. Like your mum said, you will need to share. ‘Shares’ are called shares for a reason and buying shares in a property can be the way to make a traditional buck whilst providing an opportunity for someone to start on the property ladder. There are also other sound sharing initiatives to start out in house buying.
Give someone your eyes
Ok the last and probably the most major form of sharing is giving your organs (yes when you’ve died) for transplants. This is excellent as it’s not costly to you but could SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE!!! Now that’s good sharing!
So from when you were just a tot and learning to share your most precious toy, to beyond the grave; you can share and prove that mothers are really the greatest philosophers.
Written by Sarah Bainbridge. Posted on 24th October.
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