Gone are the days when you had to own it all and do it all. Now you can share, barter, lend, trade, rent, gift, and swap to your heart's content through a number of different social technologies, peer communities, blogs, and websites that have popped up specifically for that purpose. I've seen so many of these come through my inbox that I thought it was high time we developed a definitive list on the wheres and whats of this new age of collaborative consumption.
BABY GOODS and TOYS
- ThredUp
- Rent-a-Toy
- BabyPlays
- ToySwap
- Dim Dom [France]
- SwapItBaby [Australia]
- SwapKidsClothes [Australia]
BIKES
- B-Cycle
- Bixi
- SmartBike
- Barclays Cycle Hire [UK]
- Velib [France]
BOOKS
- Bookswim
- Paperback Swap
- Book Hopper
- Bookmooch
- The Book Swap [Australia]
BUILDING MATERIALS
CARS
- Zipcar
- Whipcar
- RelayRides
- Spride
- GetAround
- Streetcar [UK]
- DriveMyCar Rentals [Australia]
- GoGet [Australia]
CARPOOLING
- GoLoco
- Zimride
- NuRide
- LiftShare [UK]
- GoCarShare [UK]
CLOTHING
- Bag Borrow & Steal
- Rent the Runway
- SwapStyle
- 99Dresses
- BigWardrobe
- DigNSwap
- FashionHire [UK]
- ClothingExchange [Australia]
COWORKING
E-BOOKS
ERRANDS
FOOD
GARDENS
- Yardsharing
- UrbanGardenShare [Seattle]
- Landshare
- WePatch
- YardsToGardens
- Hyperlocavore
- SharedEarth [UK]
MONEY
MOVIES and MEDIA
PARKING SPOTS
SKILLS and TALENTS
SLEEPING and TRAVEL
SOLAR POWER
TAXIS
TEXTBOOKS
GENERAL RENTING and SELLING
- Craigslist
- SnapGoods
- Flippid
- Krrb
- NeighborGoods
- RentCycle
- Rentalic
- ThingLoop
- EcoModo
- Rentoid
- Zilok [France]
- GumTree [UK]
- HireThings [New Zealand]
GENERAL SHARING, BORROWING and SWAPPING
GENERAL BARTERING
LOCAL FREE EXCHANGES
(Image: Cover of What's Mine Is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption)
Smart & Simple Small Space Solution: Angela & Tania's "Murphy Table"
Monica & Austin's Charming Bungalow
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Ercol Bar Stool
Why I Became a 1-Gallon Homebrewer
True Greek Recipe: Paximadi Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Capers
Thanks for this list! Another one for movies: swapadvd.com, companion site to paperbackswap.com .
In Canada we use this site:
www.kijiji.ca
It is for selling, buying almost anything.
Great finds. Another site that has just started, that is great if looking for volunteering opportunities (or if you (or an organization) have volunteer/ charity events that want to be promoted), want to learn new cooking, want to have local exchanges, etc. Check out Culturezest.org. This nonprofit organization's mission is to facilitate more local exchanges as a way to improve community communication and interaction as well as micro-tourism.
When exactly were these days when "you had to own it all and do it all"?
Also wanted to add Givmo to this list. https://www.givmo.com/
Users post items of things they no longer need or want for free and connect to other users who actually do want or need those items (they just have to pay shipping)
Givmo will also donate $1 for each item given away to a green charity or cause.
Just don't forget neighbors, friends and family for sharing. It's old school, but quick and easy.
Could you please add our website to skills and talents categories. We are a UK company just started trading in April 2012
Thanks
The best overall site to barter anything and everything on for free is turrency.com
Most of the other barter sites that are publicized cost money to join and post which eliminates the whole point of cashless trading if it costs cash!!