BorrowBuddy Journal

Smarter borrowing, lending & sharing

Practical guides to lending items safely, borrowing instead of buying, swapping, and building a community you can trust.

A hairstylist carefully styling a client's hair in a bright salon

Local ServicesOctober 17, 2026 7 min read

How to Find a Trusted African Hair Braider Near You (and Book Safely)

A great braider is worth their weight in gold. Here's how to find one you can trust in a new US city — and what to agree before your appointment.

Read the guide

Three tradespeople in work aprons shaking hands beside a newly installed sink

Local ServicesOctober 17, 2026 7 min read

How to Hire a Trusted Handyman or Plumber Without Getting Scammed

A leaking pipe or broken heater is stressful enough without worrying about who you're letting into your home. Here's how to hire help you can trust.

A guest filming the stage on a phone at a busy, colorful evening event

Events & CelebrationsOctober 17, 2026 7 min read

QR Code Tickets and Check-In: A Simple Guide for Community Events

Long lines at the door can spoil a great event. Here's how QR code tickets and check-in work — and how to set up the door so guests get in fast.

Community members handing out bags of supplies to neighbors

Diaspora LifeOctober 17, 2026 8 min read

Your First Winter in America: A Practical Guide for African Newcomers

Snow, ice and below-freezing temperatures can be a shock if you grew up in Lagos, Accra or Nairobi. Here's how to prepare for your first American winter.

A group of people planning together around a laptop and sticky notes

Diaspora LifeOctober 17, 2026 8 min read

How to Run a Hometown Association in the US: Members, Dues and Events

Hometown associations hold diaspora communities together. Here's how to run one well — from collecting dues fairly to organizing events members love.

A woman trying out a camera she is borrowing from a friend

Borrowing & LendingOctober 9, 2026 8 min read

How to Rent Out Your Stuff Safely: A Beginner's Guide for 2026

That camera, drill or tent could be earning money instead of gathering dust. Here's how to rent out your stuff without losing sleep — or your things.

A caregiver playing with two young children on a living room rug

Care & CommunityOctober 9, 2026 8 min read

What Is Time Banking? How Communities Use It for Caregiving

One hour of help is one hour, no matter who gives it. Here's how time banking works — and why it suits caregiving and community support so well.

Two neighbors swapping a guitar for a bicycle on a quiet street

SwapsOctober 9, 2026 7 min read

How to Swap Items With Neighbors (and Avoid Bad Trades)

Bartering is back. Here's how to swap items with neighbors, make fair trades and avoid the mistakes that turn a good swap into a bad one.

Hands holding a smartphone while confirming a peer-to-peer payment

Payments & SafetyOctober 9, 2026 8 min read

How Peer-to-Peer Payment Protection Works When You Buy or Rent From Someone You Don't Know

Paying someone you've never met is a leap of faith. Here's how payment protection works, what escrow really means and how to pay strangers more safely.

A tree-lined American neighborhood street where many newcomer families settle

Diaspora LifeOctober 9, 2026 8 min read

Moving to the US From Africa: A Practical Checklist for Your First 90 Days

Your first three months in America set the tone for everything that follows. Here's a practical, week-by-week checklist for newcomers from Africa.

Neighbors from different backgrounds sharing tools, plants and food in a community garden

Diaspora LifeOctober 9, 2026 7 min read

How to Find the African Community in a New US City

Moving to a new American city can feel lonely. Here's how to find your people — from churches and associations to food, events and community apps.

Guests in African print outfits checking in with tickets at an evening celebration

Events & CelebrationsOctober 9, 2026 7 min read

Planning an African Naming Ceremony in the US: A Practical Guide

From the guest list to the jollof, here's how African families in the US plan naming ceremonies and outdoorings that honor tradition and fit American life.

A tailor in an Ankara outfit surrounded by African print fabrics for aso ebi

Events & CelebrationsOctober 9, 2026 7 min read

How to Host an Owambe or African Wedding Party in the US on a Budget

Big celebrations don't have to mean big debt. Here's how African families in the US host unforgettable owambes and weddings on a realistic budget.

A young caregiver holding hands with an elderly woman in a warm, sunlit room

Diaspora LifeOctober 9, 2026 7 min read

Caring for Aging Parents in the African Diaspora: Back Home and in the US

Many Africans in America care for parents across an ocean, or welcome them into their US homes. Here's how diaspora families share the load.

Two friends agreeing on a handover of a borrowed item

Borrowing & LendingSeptember 26, 2026 7 min read

How to Lend Items to Friends and Family Without Ruining the Relationship

Lending things to people you love is generous — and risky if nothing is written down. Here is a practical, step-by-step way to help without damaging the relationship.

Neighbors handing over a borrowed power tool at the front door

Borrowing & LendingSeptember 26, 2026 6 min read

Borrow Instead of Buy: How to Borrow and Rent Items From Your Neighbors

Most of the things we buy sit unused for months. Here is how to borrow what you need from people nearby — and earn from what you already own.

BorrowBuddy app features: item swapping, nanny services and event gigs

Inside BorrowBuddySeptember 26, 2026 6 min read

What Is BorrowBuddy? The Community App to Borrow, Lend, Swap and Share

A plain-English guide to BorrowBuddy Nexus — the 7 pillars, how trust works, AMARIS AI, CTC™ and how to get early access.