$600 worth of milk
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
Rockingham, Australia
May 18, 2017 7:44pm CST
I read a post by @Platespinner some months ago where she mentioned how her husband is great at negotiating ‘deals’ which result in both parties getting what they need without too much money changing hands. I think the barter system is a great way to do business and we’ve had lots of fun over the years doing deals in this way. It saves paying out cash which is always a good thing.
About the time we bought the Jaguar we had a little yellow Mini which we were trying to sell. We were having no luck when one day our milkman knocked on the door and offered us a deal. His daughter needed a small, second-hand car and the mini would suit her perfectly. Unfortunately she had no money.
Her Dad was prepared to buy the Mini for her but rather than pay us cash he suggested giving us a $600 credit on our milk bill. We could afford to wait for our money so we agreed. I loved getting a statement every month that showed we were hundreds of dollars ahead with our milk account.
However before we were paid out, the milkman sold the business and paid out what he owed. Maybe next time I’ll tell you about an even more involved barter concerning some building work, a very big caravan and a powerful motor-bike. Stay tuned!
25 people like this
25 responses
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
19 May 17
I could be wrong, but I am under the impression that the barter system is illegal in Colorado.
5 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
20 May 17
It could be illegal in a lot of states, but I've never thought to ask or look and see. We barter window cleaning for a dentist and an eye doctor. I usually owe them more than they owe us, but at least our bill is smaller. What the government doesn't know won't hurt them in this regard that is. If I did all my work using the barter system, then I'd not have any assets to show the bank if I ever needed to get a loan of any type, so not too many people could do it across the board.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 May 17
I wouldn't be surprised if it's illegal here too particularly if there are relatively large sums involved. I figure the government gets enough out of us so I'm happy to 'work a swifty' in this regard.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
19 May 17
I've bartered quite a few things over the years. If I don't need to lay out cash I'm happy.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 May 17
It doesn't always work but if you can make it work it's a good system.
@manasamanu (3746)
• Bangalore, India
19 May 17
Nice it is that the barter system still exists. Going cashless means this. I love it. We will be waiting for more stories.
2 people like this
@manasamanu (3746)
• Bangalore, India
20 May 17
@JudyEv That's the reason you sold that car. It really has troubles.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 May 17
That's true. I'm all for avoiding taxes on this, that and the other.
@GardenGerty (157563)
• United States
19 May 17
Perfect car for a young driver, I think, and a good deal for you.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 May 17
From memory I think the bill was going down about $15 a week.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
19 May 17
Bartering is a big deal here in the south - if you place an add for say a lawn mower for sale people will say, would you trade for a boat in trade. We actually bartered when we sold a piece of property 17 years ago. We sold it to our carpet guy (he wasn't our carpet guy until that sale) and part of our payment was in carpeting, which we needed so it worked out good for all of us.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 May 17
It's such a sensible way to go I think. There should be more of it.
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
19 May 17
like you say ... everyone got what they wanted.. I'll be staying tuned in for your next story...sounds very intriguing 
.
.2 people like this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
20 May 17
It's great when you get deals and sales from unexpected places that work out!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
@MarymargII I used to swap piano lessons for hay for my horses. I'd forgotten that till now.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
21 May 17
@JudyEv Yep, I agree. Especially when there's not an abundance of it--lol!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 May 17
I'm sure it wouldn't have suited many. We were spending about $15 a week on milk at the time. There was four in the household at the time.
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
19 May 17
I love the fact that barter is still in use.
The perfect answer to cashless...That's what is bring stressed here
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
21 May 17
The barter system can be a lot of fun, Judy! Dad and some of my older brothers were forever "swapping" things around the farm! You never knew, when you went to bed, what you might have to take care of the next day when you woke up! (Dad and my oldest brother liked to trade livestock! My next two oldest brothers traded wagons, cars, tools and sometimes, our bikes for other things!)
Hmmm... It seems strange to me that you and Vince live on a farm but you have to buy milk!
All my young life, we had milk cows. The last three years I lived on the farm I had to milk them twice a day. (I still think I fared better than one of my older brothers! He had to milk cows as well as goats for two years! LOL!)
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
21 May 17
@JudyEv LOL! Tell Vince he needs to get out and live a little! Fresh milk is delicious!
We only had 20 acres when I was growing up!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
@DaddyEvil He grew up in a town so I have to make allowances for him. 
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40056)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 May 17
@JudyEv - What a wonderful idea. We did a deal with a neighbor one time. We needed a new fence between our houses, but he couldn't afford to help pay for it. However, he owned a business that made wrought iron furniture. We paid for the fence and he added a beautiful wrought iron gate next to our house. We were happy with the deal.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40056)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 May 17
@JudyEv - We loved that gate, too. It was much prettier than anything we would have had, otherwise. It was a Win-Win deal for both of us.
1 person likes this
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
20 May 17
What a great deal seems bartering is a lost art
1 person likes this
