Bartering goods & services - another good way of living frugally!
By hezoid
@hezoid (2144)
April 18, 2009 6:47pm CST
Does anyone else barter their goods/services with friends? We have a nice patch of rhubarb in our garden that is just ready for picking and my friend, whose husband hunts deer, has lots of vennison so we've agreed to do a trade! Also, my hubby, being a tradesman (painted & decorator as well as jack-of-all-trades!) is often getting other tradespeople he knows to do odd bits to our house in exchange for doing works on their house, it's working particularly well with one friend who is doing their house up just like we are! Anyone else barter good and/or services with friends, family, neighbours etc?
4 people like this
11 responses
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
18 Apr 09
I think it is an excellant way to save money so long as it is done fairly, I can remember a couple of years ago I had a yard sale and I had about 5 friends set up a table in my front yard so we had a group sale, we had so much fun just bartering between ourselves with our old junk, yes i think we should all do this and beat the tax man...
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
22 Apr 09
I use to barter all the time. I was a saleswoman for womans clothing. I would go to different shows and trade clothing for household items or other goods that other woman sold. It was always a win win situation for all of us.
@tjburcham (690)
• United States
19 Apr 09
It didn't start out that way. I have a couple of friends that even though they aren't much older than my husband and I, they aren't in very good health. My husband helps them with some chores like moving the fridge so she can clean behind it and what ever little project they have going at the time. So, since they grow a pretty good garden, they give us some food out of it. It seems to help ease there minds a little for what they think is imposing on us. So now we just trade favors and call it good.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
20 Apr 09
I do things like babysit in trade for picking berries, growing veggies and trading them for minor house repairs, computer repair in trade for car repair...
Dog sitting in trade for dogsitting. I did my friend's income tax and helped him with unemployment and he built my deck for me a couple years ago. (supplies and labour all inclusive)
I think it works well as long as both parties are happy with the trade.
@dragonman2001 (59)
• United States
19 Apr 09
We all have our ways of doing things to save money. I think that is one good way to save money along as you know how to trade right. IF i knew how to trade right i would. Also trading that that helps the community working otgeather nd keep the peace. So keep it up.
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
19 Apr 09
I do that with my chiropractor. He treats me and I cook for him once a week. He buys everything he wants and I spend a couple hours making him lunches and dinners. It works out great because I talked him into getting slotted containers so everything stays separate. Sometimes he gets in the mood for lasagna and I make a whole tray for him then he gets burned out on it. I think if you can swap food for services - why not? It's a win / win situation any way you look at it. It's even better if you grow you own vegetables.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
18 Apr 09
I really like barter. No, I'm sorry, that's putting it too mildly -- I LOVE barter.
Seriously, it's awesome, there's not really any true stress to it. I have something, you have something, we both have something the other could use...lets treade!
Not only does it just make sense...it's kinda fun to the point where it can be addicting, heh.
I've been doing it more and more lately, as the economy has given people incentive for reviving this tradition in more usual and less "fringe" ways.
@busyB4 (874)
• United States
19 Apr 09
I think that is great. My daughter and her sister in law sometimes have cooking days and cook up large amounts by splitting the grocery costs and then freeze meals for both families. I think that is a great idea too, as ingredients for one thing often cost a good bit and sometimes you dont use those same ingredients and they will spoil.
@mira91 (985)
• Singapore
19 Apr 09
Oh that's great...I wish i could...But i don't think there's anything here in this flat unit of mine that could be counted as goods or services...lol..Maybe clothes or something but besides that, there's nothing..I guess for me, living frugally would be to buy things that i really need now...=]
