Share Your Stuff

There are lots of creative ways to share your under-utilized “stuff” with others in a safe, organized way—and even make money doing it! This infographic, created by Collaborative Consumption in partnership with the Collaborative Fund, shows some of the stuff that might be lying around your house that are just profits waiting to happen—and all the start-ups trying to help you along.

For examples, you can share items like tools, outdoor gear, and gardening supplies with friends and neighbors using an online exchange service like NeighborGoods. Try thredup.com for sharing used kids clothes and toys. For things you don't want anymore, consider organizing a clothing swap or offering them for free (or trade) on Craigslist or Freecycle. You can even rent or share workspace through websites like liquidspace.com.

Why not share your vehicle as well? By joining a peer-to-peer car sharing program, you can make a little extra cash sharing your wheels with friends--and even strangers--in a safe, convenient way. Programs available in big cities include Boston’s RelayRides, New York’s RentMyCar, Pittsburgh’s Go-Op, and San Francisco’s City CarShare. And if you don't feel like driving, discover the benefits of ridesharing for quick errands, daily carpooling, and even cross-country travel, using services like eRideshare, Ridester or AlterNetRides.

You can even share your money. Through the peer-to-peer banking site Lending Club, members can directly invest in and borrow from each other, avoiding the cost and complexity of the banking system. The upshot is better rates to borrowers and better returns to investors.

If you're worried about trust concerns in the new sharing economy, the start-up company TrustCloud has an algorithm that can verify your—and others'—reliability, consistency, and responsiveness in peer-to-peer transactions.