Underrated in America: Bartering
When times get tough, it's time to start bartering.In case you're unfamiliar with the concept, bartering involves a swapping or trading of goods and services for other goods and services without the use of money. Bartering can involve two people, several people or groups of people. In developing countries, bartering is a common mode for transactions involving food, domestic work and physical labor.
In the current economic climate, we're all getting a little more creative. I'm not only referring to using eBay or swap sites like SwapThing, but the idea of offering a service that a friend, acquaintance or professional contact values in exchange for something that you need or want to accomplish. Or, in my case, bartering involves a balance I'm looking to pay down.
So I'm running a balance at my dentist's office. I don't currently have dental coverage and even if I did, there are many services that aren't covered or covered appropriately. My dentist has been great and I've paid a nominal sum on my bill each month. In talking with him, I realized he could use my writing/editing skills to help him market his services more efficiently. I came up with a proposal to rewrite the copy on his Web sites that will help me pay down my bill. It's a service he needed and the time was right. I placed a value on my writing and editing services, offered him an hourly rate and we are set to begin work soon.
Don't miss the rest of our series on Underrated In America!
If you're short on cash, bartering is a great idea. You can barter for everything from babysitting, cleaning and housekeeping services to repair work and professional services. Not everything in our economy needs to revolve around the cash economy. Think about bartering...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-30-2008 @ 7:12AM
solomeeeo said...
We owned a small mom and pop business before retiring during the last recession. We bartered with anyone who would and it got us through some pretty tough times. I recommend it to anyone that has a small business!
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10-30-2008 @ 1:16PM
Kathie said...
Bartering is fine until the IRS gets involved -- they consider it income to be taxed, so caution is advised.
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11-07-2008 @ 6:07PM
jim lewis said...
The Fed has caused this financial crisis so we'll be happy to go running to the new currency-the Amero, which is the new currency of the North American Union.
No more US sovereignty!
The Fed and the IRS are owned by foreign bankers so once we get rid of them we'll be able to fix america, not until then though.
Bartering will be a great way for US keep some power for ourselves, next year is going to be very tough for most, get ready
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11-22-2008 @ 4:33PM
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11-29-2008 @ 3:42PM
Jason said...
Bartering works! I duplicated Kyle MacDonald's experiment and have traded up from a paperclip to one year's rent in a two bedroom apartment with no cash out of my pocket (except when I broke the motorcycle and had to get it repaired. Here is the article from today's Kansas City star http://www.kansascity.com/news/neighborhood/olathe/story/911516.html
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