Barter and Save Money
Bartering and haggling (negotiating) used to be the main languages of commerce. Nowadays, bartering is becoming popular once more as people seek new ways to save money.
Barter involves trading goods or services without using money. Bartering is increasingly being facilitated nowadays with the Internet. Both businesses and consumers save money by bartering. In addition, the human contact involved in bartering builds community.
The first step involved in bartering is figuring out what you have to give-whether it is a service or a good. For services, think of professional skills you have or hobbies you have or chores you perform regularly at home which you enjoy. For goods, think of items you have around the house that you have never used, or no longer need.
Barter in the 19th Century-A Labor for Labor Note-Image via Wikipedia
When bartering, especially when doing a barter online, watch out for scam artists-people who disappear after you have fulfilled your part of the bargain. It’s fairly easy to find friends and coworkers to barter with in your local community. If you want to barter online, Freecycle.org, Ormita.com and Craigslist.org are barter exchanges that persons have had good experiences with.
A Man Paying his Yearly Newspaper Subscription by Using Barter-Image via Wikipedia
Barter Examples
Check out these examples of bartering.
Sustainable Exchange
Sustainable Exchange is a business-to-business bartering exchange in Vermont, America. Sustainable Exchange members barter goods and services. Members have exchanged walking dogs and giving rides to the airport in exchange for what they needed.
The GreenestDollar.com
Heather Levin, owner of TheGreenestDollar.com, did a barter with her hairdresser. She exchanged her writing skills for a new hair cut and color. Her hairdresser needed copy for her new website. Both women were able to save money and get something they wanted.
How about you? Have you ever conducted a barter successfully?
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Published in: Personal Finance
Comments: 42 | Post a CommentPost a Comment
bigpapadan | Dec 14, 2010 | Reply
Very good advice. I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks for the tip.
CA Johnson | Dec 14, 2010 | Reply
This is very informative. Thank you for telling us how we can save money through bartering.
JoniJones | Dec 14, 2010 | Reply
Great idea, thanks for the info, Like
nz2rdfox | Dec 14, 2010 | Reply
it still happens in the Philippines though most of it are in far-flung areas..:)
awesome11 | Dec 14, 2010 | Reply
great artical
Bloom Again | Dec 14, 2010 | Reply
I have a feeling that bartering is going to regain popularity. Great share.
Sharif Ishnin | Dec 14, 2010 | Reply
I’m glad bartering is back. Thanks to help of technology.
crisdiwata | Dec 14, 2010 | Reply
We still use it in our country; exchanging clothes for kilos of rice, domestic animals for agricultural products or farm animals but mostly the people who engage in it are those who are leaving in remote provinces.
Jimmy Shilaho | Dec 15, 2010 | Reply
I would want to see more barter and less haggling.
Starpisces | Dec 15, 2010 | Reply
interesting, have not tried. So far I have seen bartering between children.
papaleng | Dec 15, 2010 | Reply
Bartering is still practice in our country, somewhere down south, in particular, Mindanao. good share.
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 15, 2010 | Reply
You’re welcome Bigpapadan.
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 15, 2010 | Reply
@Bloom Again
People are getting more creative
@Sharif
The technology is making it easier to find somenone who has what you want.
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 15, 2010 | Reply
Jimmy, when you are the seller, definitely
Star, kids know their allowance is limited
Athena, people are even swapping houses.
Brewed Coffee | Dec 15, 2010 | Reply
Living in the city, I don’t often see bartering. But in the rural areas, I think this is still done.
awesome11 | Dec 16, 2010 | Reply
great article
albert1jemi | Dec 16, 2010 | Reply
nice article
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 16, 2010 | Reply
Thanks Anu.
Thanks Awesome.
Thanks Albert.
Thanks for sharing your experience LCM Linda. I wish people would be upfront about things like the quality. Does the site have a system to rate other traders?
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 16, 2010 | Reply
Thanks Anu.
It’s taking off in many parts now Brewed. many city dwellers are rediscovering bartering.
fagina | Dec 16, 2010 | Reply
Haven’t tried…May be this whole thing is worth an attempt!!
Anj M | Dec 16, 2010 | Reply
Hey, I had no clue that this still happens at least not in online!
yes me | Dec 16, 2010 | Reply
A nice share like it cheers
Rhodora Bande | Dec 16, 2010 | Reply
This is one activity I’d like to try. It’s fun exploring other ways of saving money.
Michal Dorcak | Dec 16, 2010 | Reply
Nice article.
Adrn0919 | Dec 17, 2010 | Reply
Great article and informative. Nice job. Thank you for sharing.
strategy03 | Dec 17, 2010 | Reply
good and excellent
wonder | Dec 17, 2010 | Reply
A good idea and prevents waste.
gaby7 | Dec 18, 2010 | Reply
Barter may appear backward economics, yet I still think it was a better way of closing business deals! Just carry your pumpkin and swap it with Potatoes and go home!
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 18, 2010 | Reply
Fagina,
Bartering can work out pretty well for you.
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 18, 2010 | Reply
Anj,
It definitely does. The Internet has opened up this means of trade to a whole new generation.
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 18, 2010 | Reply
Cheers Matt.
Rhodora, it is fairly easy to do
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 18, 2010 | Reply
Thanks Michal.
Thank you Adrn.
Thanks Strategy.
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 18, 2010 | Reply
Good point Wonder. The people who barter on Freecycle have that as one of their main considerations.
I like it Gaby. In some ways it is better.
Raj the Tora | Dec 19, 2010 | Reply
I thought bartering is exchanging goods. Great post. Thanks Sharifa
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 21, 2010 | Reply
You’re welcome Raj.
leoforex | Dec 21, 2010 | Reply
Nice article keep it up
SowmyaT | Dec 27, 2010 | Reply
Nice article
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 30, 2010 | Reply
Hi Leoforex.
SharifaMcFarlane | Dec 30, 2010 | Reply
Thanks Sowmya.
lucia anna | Jan 1, 2011 | Reply
Very interesting
SharifaMcFarlane | Jan 2, 2011 | Reply
Thanks Lucia.
scott | Jul 13, 2011 | Reply
its an old time way..and i still use it everyday if i can