Finding Contentment

Bartering skills

In a simpler time and day families paid the doctor with chickens or whatever they had on hand. Bartering for goods and services was the norm. And why not? Why keep paying someone cash to do something for you when you can trade services?

Our good friends Nancy and Ronnie are wonderful to us, and Ronnie has some mechanical knowledge. He has been great helping me with my car issues in recent months. Last weekend he changed the brakes and a sensor on the minivan. He did all this out of friendship, but I recently came up with an idea.

Although my husband Mark probably can change oil, he works anywhere from 55 to 80 hours per week and simply doesn’t have the time to change oil as well as till the gardens, etc.

So far, Nancy has liked the homemade laundry detergent samples I gave her, so we are going to make a deal. I will keep her family supplied so they never have to buy laundry detergent again and Ronnie will change my oil every three months.

We haven’t worked out the details yet, and we still have to ask Ronnie! But Nancy and I are pretty sure this will work out for everyone involved.

Do you have a skill or a homemade product you could barter with? Do you know someone who has a skill that would be useful to you?

I wonder if someone would help me weed the garden in exchange for some summer vegis?

I think I’ll make a list of what I could use and what I have to offer…

Barter

10:47 AM, Thursday, March 15, 2007 .. Posted by Sweetmama2

I also do this with a friend. Her husband is very good at carpentry and when I need something done I babysit for their little ones. She also cuts hair so there is another thing she does for us in exchange for my babysitting services! My son.husband daughter and I get our hair cut for exchange instead of money and this saves us alot!
Wish people did more of this!
Sweetmama

haircuts

11:30 AM, Thursday, March 15, 2007 .. Posted by findingcontentment

That's a great idea. Now I just need to find someone who cuts hair. We spend a lot of money on this because I am awful at it...

Untitled Comment

02:50 PM, Thursday, March 15, 2007 .. Posted by Rhen

I think bartering would be great for us. Dh is an electrician and people are always asking for advice, help and supplies.