Bartering

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Bartering

Submitted by: teresa 12/04/2008 1:05 PM

My husband and I own a small business and we have bartered with other businesses on many occasions. We have bartered gift certificates for restaurants to eat out, loads of firewood (including delivery), babysitting, curtains for our home, cleaning of our home, mowing of our grass. The next time you start to spend money on a service or for entertainment, ask yourself if you have anything you can trade for it? We have people to be very open to the idea of trading.

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Comments:

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maybe its because you own a business but most of the common folk can't do anything without money if anyone knows how to do this for everyday working don't own my on business people please let everyone know

Posted by rwbam on December 20, 2008 1:18 AM

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I have bartered for some great exchanges from computer trouble shooting, to programmable thermostat installation, to assembling furniture all in exchange for my homemade macaroni and cheese. My friends love it and are happy to exchange their services for a home cooked meal.

Just think about things that you are good at, calligraphy (did this for a friend's wedding invitations in exchange for a few free oil changes from her future husband). You'll be surprised.

Posted by LauraC on December 20, 2008 10:20 AM

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We just got dumped with 12 inches of snow (which translates to 4 ft when you have to park on the street and the snow plows plow you in) and I just traded a batch of homemade cookies to have the neighbor boys dig my car out.

Posted by anonymous on December 22, 2008 9:16 AM

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For the normal working folk here are my real life examples, I do not own a buisness or hold any degree in anything!(thou in fairness I have friends who do)
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in my current life I have bartered my housecleaning/cooking services in exchange for rent and utilities.

I have bartered up my laundry and ironing services in exchange for use of someones home washer/dryer/iron

I also regurarly watch my BMF's phones during his lunch breaks and when he runs errands,for unlimited access to postage/fax/computer/scanner/printer/long distance with my friend who has a home office.

my friends and I barter magazines back and forth. as well as exchange unneeded/unwanted coupons and gift cards.

I have bartered babysitting for the same with other single parents

When I was much younger I have cleaned a restuarant after hours in exchange for all the free perfectly good food they couldnt keep at the end of the night,bakery items made that day + a ride home..(restaurants throw away a lot of great food every day)

My Best friend exchanges housepainting/roofing/hauling and moving with his friend for his skills as a licensed electrician/plumber/car radio$speaker installer.its not a official thing they just help each other out from time to time as friends.

I have Bartered gently used cloths with other single parents in exchange for their childrens gently used cloths.

I have exchanged garden grown lettuce,basil and green onions I grew for cherry tomatoes and zuchinni and hot peppers with a friends mom that she grew.

I Shave my BMF's head and he gives me a very Fem pedicure in exchange regurarly. Niether of us are pro's we had to teach each other along the way. now he does a mani-pedi that would make any lady envious,and So far luckily he has both ears.

My BMF is my unofficial personal trainer(no he's not a pro)in exchange for my homemade banana bread (own secret recipie)
***you have to laugh at the irony*****
but i did loose 150 pounds(and he gained 20)

my oldest teen daughter watches her baby sister(8) so I can jump in the shower or take a nap in exchange for computer time.**yes you can barter with your children/you probably already do!

I offer my kids Tv and video game time in exchange for completing their chores(that they should do anyway)

when i was in school I bartered my artwork/art lessons with my fellow students for math tutoring.and then I cleaned up my art teachers classroom for private art lessons so I could do more art work in exchange for math tutoring.

I clean my BMF cars interior in exchange for driving lessons(yes I still cannot drive,never had to.always rode the bus)

I have friends who are a husbands wife team. he is a paid maintenace man at the apartment complex they live in,she is the part time paid housekeeper(cleans abandoned apartments and the laundry rooms)he gets a 50% rent discount for being onsite/oncall maintance. she gets the other 50 discounted,plus free access to the clubhouse,pool,hot tub,laundry and workout facilities after hours as is their arrangement. so their rent and ammenties are free. The only thing they pay is water and phone...for a 3bedroom two bath apartment. they have one of the corner units which is the largest with an enclosed patio! which is great when you have 2 kids!
This isn't trully bartering,its really a work benefit but its one I am sure many of us wish they could get.(and you can if you work at apartment complex or a storage unit facility or even a hotel)

Posted by anonymous on December 31, 2008 7:49 PM

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Like the lady above, many years ago I mowed the lawn at the apt. building I lived at for reduced rent. Many times I've traded items or services with another person and we both felt good about it (like sewing, yard work, baking, babysitting, etc.).

I've thought about offering lessons in various things I'm good at, and hopefully whoever I'm giving lessons to would have something to offer in exchange. In tough times it may be easier to barter than to get paid for these things!

Posted by anonymous on January 10, 2009 11:47 PM

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As a novice web designer and single mom with limited to no income, I trade service with my hair stylist and I designed and maintain her site in exchange for her doing my hair every month.

It works out wonderful. I'd be interested in other bartering options.

See my website for contact information.

Posted by Lukeither on January 16, 2009 9:31 PM

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Wow! What a wonderful array of bartering possibilities! Should start anyone thinking. Years ago I bartered for a handsome piece of art which now hang on my wall. I've also traded press releases for chair massages. It's time to think of what I have to offer these days, and what I need or want.

Posted by anonymous on January 16, 2009 11:19 PM

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I am a tailor and have bartered on many occasions my services but a word of caution is in order: be sure you agree upon an acceptable exchange. Many times the other party thinks my hemming their pants are worth a fraction of the actual price I charge.Or they want to charge me $100.00 to cut my hair and I would never pay that anyway.

Also document the services as if you were charging so the parties involved don't "forget" what they agreed to exchange. I sewed a patch on a leather motorcycle jacket in exchange for a massage that I never recieved. Should have been in writing!

Posted by anonymous on January 18, 2009 10:17 AM

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Has anyone had to deal with the IRS, because they aren't getting their share??

Posted by Lois on February 01, 2009 2:31 PM

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