In the past, people used to be more all-around talented. These Jack-of-all-trades were able to cook, clean, mend clothes, mow the yard, run the farm, balance the checkbook, and everything else in between. But being able to do everything meant that no one was specialized or an “expert” at any one thing.
In today’s culture, more people are specialized and it’s hard to find someone who’s as well-rounded as everyone was in past generations. Because of this, people today have to either hire someone to fulfill the tasks and duties which they are not trained in, or they have to take the time to learn these skills for themselves.
Personally, there are a few tasks I’m not good at (or don’t have the equipment for) and there are some I just downright hate. Even though I’m on a pretty strict budget, I do hire out some tasks, like house cleaning. Then there are tasks I barter for.
Bartering is a great way to exchange goods and services without having to pay for them out of your monthly budget. To begin bartering, all you have to do is start asking around. There are lots of small businesses and individuals who’d rather barter than pay for goods and services. The key to keep in mind when you are bartering is that both parties need to be satisfied with the trade.
One of my hobbies is quilting. It can be a pretty expensive hobby, but a lot of my projects are used as gifts for friends and family, and there are a few I have for sale at a local fabric store too. I have the equipment and knowledge to be able to put all the pieces together to make the front side of the quilt, but putting the front side, the batting, and the backing together is not my forte, nor do I have the machine necessary to do this. Instead I usually hire this step done by a family friend.
When I finished one of my last projects that needed quilted, I was able to barter for this service instead. My friend was going out of town and needed someone to check in on her dogs several times each day over the long weekend. Being a dog owner and lover myself, I volunteered to do this for her. At the time I suggested it, I had no thought in my mind about compensation or bartering.
To my surprise, she suggested that we barter my dog sitting for her quilting one of my projects at a discount. Typically quilting on a large project can cost several hundred dollars. So I was surprised when I went to pick up my project that she decided to give me the quilting for free since I had watched over her dogs while they were away.
This was my first experience with bartering and I fell in love with the idea. I haven’t had many other opportunities to try bartering, but from now on I will suggesting it as an option whenever possible. Now if only I could barter something to get someone to come over and wash the dishes in my sink! 🙂 (That’s the worst chore in the whole world.)
Have you ever tried bartering for goods or services?
Bartering is a wonderful system and something that I wish were more integrated into our modern economy. We barter for dog-sitting all the time. We’ve actually never paid to board Frugal Hound when we travel.
We’re able to swap dogs with various dog-owning friends and it’s the best of both worlds for everyone. The dogs are happier than they’d be in a kennel, we’re secure in knowing that the dogs are well cared for, and, it saves us a ton of money!
I’m hoping we’ll have even more opportunities for bartering with neighbors once we’re living on a homestead–I have to imagine it’s a much more common practice in rural areas.
P.S. Many thanks for the link :)!
I live in a pretty rural community and it’s not very common here, but it’s something I’d like to try more in the future for sure!