When you hear the word bartering what comes to mind? Native Americans trading with Colonists? Exchanging garden vegetables over the back fence with your neighbor? Many of us have learned to be smarter with money from the 2007-2010 recession. People started getting creative to save money, sewing, cooking at home instead of eating out, couponing, etc. Let's take a look at a way to live a more simple life and save money in the process - through bartering.
What skills or talents do you have? Can you paint (either as an artist or as a contractor)? Can you babysit? Do you know how to do taxes? Do you grow a garden? Have you successfully made some do it yourself items that others said they liked? Can you bake? Do you have a teaching certificate? Could you be a fitness or yoga or zumba instructor? Are you good at answering phones and filing? How good are your computer skills? Have you got your license to be an electrician or plumber? How's your landscaping skills? Are you a person good at really cleaning? Ever do construction? Ever wish you could be a photographer? Do you do nails? Are you good at fixing cars? Do you know how to play any musical instruments? Do you have years of dancing experience? Ever made jewelry that people said they loved? Can you knit, crochet or needlepoint? Ever make any woodworking projects you're proud of? Do you like sports? Do you know how to sew? Do you enjoy driving? Are you handy with basic home repairs and maintenance?
Now that you've read through those, are there any (or a few I didn't mention) that you know you could do? What if you used that talent and experience to barter for things you can't do? Or for things that would cost money? What could you offer to do or make with the above skills? How about this:
Paint art pieces, paint a fence, or a house (or even just the trim), babysit for a single mom or a family where both parents have to work, do others' taxes, barter what you grow from your garden, barter homemade gifts especially around the holidays, bake cookies, pies or cakes, teach a class to a group of kids in the community or your neighborhood, teach adults a new skill, teach a yoga class, help out a friend's home filing or answering phones for a charity, teach an older person how to use facebook to stay in touch with family, do some home wiring or plumbing for someone, cut lawns, yank unwanted shrubs, clean homes, build something, photograph someone's event, kids, pets, or sports team, do manicures/pedicures, fix cars for people, teach musical instruction, run a dance class, create custom made jewelry pieces for people, again especially around holidays, knit or crochet clothing or blankets, needlepoint to personalize or monogram items, build a bookcase or doghouse, coach a little league team, sew clothing, curtains, pillows, tablecloths, quilts, etc., be an Uber, Lyft, or UberEats driver (if you have a newer car), fix small around the home items for people who don't know how or are too elderly to be climbing ladders, the list goes on and on.
What could you ask for in exchange to save money? All the same things or something you come up with on your own! It's a great way to get your talents out there by word of mouth (who knows? it could turn into a business someday?), to meet new people in your area, to help friends and family save money, to make connections in an area you're interested in - like other musicians, or dancers.
Before shelling out cash for your next project or item, see if you can barter with others you know. Ask around in your circles of friends and family, coworkers, groups you're already in, people you hang out with regularly, clubs and organizations you're with, your social media contacts, your neighbors. What a great way to live the simple life - by people helping people.
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