The Thrill of Bartering in a Frugal Lifestyle

I've never had the nerve to barter Bill. I'm not even sure if it's done too much around here. However I'd be willing to give it a try if the right opportunity came along. Cool hub.

I love it. Bartering was what truly made this country great. If it comes back, our country will be great once again!

Frugality is a necessity rather than a choice for many people these days, so bartering is making something of a comeback. Thanks for sharing your stories and tips.

I am all about living a frugal lifestyle. It just makes sense! Thanks for the uplifting share on this topic.

My husband loves to barter, we met in Saudi Arabia where bartering is part of daily life, but my old man takes it to another level, he is like a child on Christmas morning when he gets a good deal. You are right, of course, bartering is such a sensible and practical way to do business. Not only that, but it's a good way to get to know your community. I love this hub, what a great way to live!

Take care and have a wonderful Sunday. My best to you.

Bartering is a definite win win situation and both sides are happy. You live in a great community. Great hub.

I think it's an excellent idea, Bill, and brings people together too.

What a wonderful community in which you are blessed to live. I love your bartering stories here. Wow, you did get a good deal on your nice truck. Surely each one of us can come up with something to barter. Times may be heading that way and you are ahead of the game. Blessing always

It was interesting to read about the bartering in your area. I'm not "committed" but actually "addicted" to a frugal lifestyle myself, and I've been homeless before as well as swimming in extravagant wealth too (must be a common thing with writers with stories!). I really adore op shopping and seeing how far I can push the grocery bill down while making it as healthy as possible. It's great fun and a competition for survival, but when you're used to it, you don't miss toys or trappings. I haven't done much bartering with people as I live in a city and they don't seem to want to do things that way. But if I ever move to the country (which I would like) then we'll see if I can do more there! Voted up and useful and enjoyed very much!

We live in rural Arizona and live frugally because we want to live the bliss of being self employed. We often buy in bulk to save money and use our own well water. We have our own garden of spices and veggies, cook from scratch and bake bread. Because of my job (I own a dog boarding and training business), we often must buy food once a month which ultimately makes us save on gas too.

Excellent hub. Bartering is the way to go. You get a good job done because the person does it out of care for you, and that's something money can't buy. In the Philippines we are doing a slow house renovation and have been cheated by a lot of workers. Now we've gotten wise. For some jobs, my husband seeks the help of the driver of a neighbor. The driver is glad to help, because we allow him and our maid to run a store in our house for free. We don't charge rent or anything, and we pay when we buy from the store. As a result, the neighbor's driver does a lot of house repair jobs for us at a reasonable fee, and he does them well because the store has practically doubled the income of both my maid and the neighbor's driver. You can't buy gratitude, and this is a perfect example of how giving ends up being more beneficial than spending.

Love being frugal. It annoys me to see young people going out to eat a couple of times a day then saying they can't live on what they make. My sister in law stops at Peet for a large coffee twice a day. She is wealthy.

Thanks for sharing about your bartering story Bill!

These are great little stories of frugal living. We do this sometimes. I sure do wish that we could do more of it though. I usually just "give" things away and expect no return. We give mostly to the local Good Will store.

I love the stories in this hub, Bill. Bartering is a great idea! It certainly helps people to live frugally. I love the sense of community that it promotes, too.

I love the bartering system as I feel it creates warmth, community and inter-dependance in the best way possible. I am so glad that hunk of a red truck belongs to you!

Back in the 70's, a lady in our area tried to start a bartering group. Sadly, only 3 people showed up and one of them was her. We were so disappointed. I might just start this idea on the Facebook garage sale group. I've got a ton of plants here that need a new home. Hmm. Now I need to think of what I'd like to barter for. Thanks for the idea.

Bill - I once lived in a mountain community here in Arizona where the locals started a barter club. The way this worked was one could provide goods or services for others and receive "barter bucks" in payment. These could be used to buy goods or services from other club members. It was just like using real money, except it was play money.

This worked great for many years until somehow or other the IRS found out about the club and managed to scare everyone away. I believe I still have a few "barter bucks" tucked away somewhere.

Interesting hub my friend and it is sad that our own government needs to get involved in such a simple program

This is great Bill. My first thought after reading this was that I need to do this more. Then I thought about it for a moment and we actually do more of this than we realize. For instance, when we travel we never ever leave our dog in a kennel. We watch other friends and families pets when they are away and in return they watch ours.

Over the years I've helped many friends with renovation projects. In return they have helped out here with major projects. My brother-in-law stayed with us a few years back when he was in a transition period. He certainly didn't owe us anything but when I renovated our bathroom he did the plumbing for me.

These are classics win-win situations. Also, I'm with you, I am not cheap, I am frugal :)

How great it must be to live in a community like yours. My friend Tom's father was a doctor in a rural area in Missouri. He was usually paid in produce and meat, rarely money. They don't make em like that anymore. Great article Bill...

I love this Bill and think it is such a splendid idea. Of course legally the government considers this buying and selling and wants their cut but thankfully right now they have better things to do; like get out of their own messes! lol Well I can tell you I just don't use the f word Bill; you may be frugal; I am just cheap and don't care to admit it! My kind of hub!

This is a clear explanation of frugal living. You make me start thinking on what deal to strike.

Bill, I have many hearty stories about bartering, and I think it has many benefits other than financial. Can't remember doing it, but would if the opportunity arises. I'm still thinking what I could barter for your tutoring!

Bill - Someone started a small group for this very purpose where I live, but I think that it has died down. I have done massage for some. Not trained but perhaps it's because I put my heart in it, so people are quite touched and pleased. I have also benefitted from this.

I write poems, do the artwork and frame them for friends. I seek nothing, but again people are touched and do reciprocate from time to time in loving ways.

I like your neighbourly deals. 'Sweet!'

I think bartering is a great way to meet new friends as well. It's a great opportunity to keep your costs down, while also saving for more important things like food, water, and shelter. Thanks, Bill!

One hand washes the other. So wonderful when you have neighbours, relatives and friends who are willing to make life for others more affordable and comfortable.

In SA the price of a second-hand 1999 Ford Ranger pick-up in a relative good condition will be plus-minus R80,000 ($8,000) !!!! And we will have to pay cash for it, as the financial institutions don't allow loans for cars older than 5 years.

Thought-provoking and inspiring hub! Thank you, billybuc.

Oh, yes, I am frugal, though not without essential luxuries :)

All I could think of when reading this hub was Lisa Gansky's book, The Mesh Economy: Why the Future of Business is Sharing. There are some significant logistical challenges to be overcome in a barter/sharing economic model, although this has been facilitated in a major way by the Internet. As well, I've observed that a barter/sharing model works better in smaller groups and communities.

Some of the huge logistical issues include insurance, licensing and taxes. Bartered services must be reported as income (which many people don't realize). Here's what our friends at the IRS have to say about it: http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc420.html

As well, one of the issues that has come up recently is around apps that provide ride sharing. With the apps, regular folks now become cabbies in practice. No licensing, no oversight and, God forbid, no insurance to cover drivers or riders? What if someone is hurt while getting or giving a ride? Insurance companies may have some clause that would classify these folks as cab drivers, not friends sharing a ride. And does the app have any vetting process for safety and security? Unfortunately, this is the world we live in.

Bartering/sharing/trading is how the world worked for centuries and it is a model that can be a winner for the exchange of many services and products. This hub also reminded me of the show on History Channel, Down East Dickering where these folks live by bartering. It is the way the world is going. Now the world needs to get up to speed on how to handle it.

This is what here is called "trueque". Things would go smoother with more "frugal" thinkers. Thanks Bill I hope we become doers of thoughts such as this.

What a great deal, making repairs on a car can get expensive and so can constantly buying coffee. For the past couple years, I have come to believe living frugally is the way to go and you're right about the difference between needs and wants. Enjoyed reading this. :)

Bet the frugal topic extends your reach even further. Fascinating approach. Good for you! ;-)

Seems like everyone is happy and no taxes.

I did read your hub asking for a choice of tag-lines for your book but it wouldn't take my vote or comment (something to do with funny French wifi I think!). I will get back to it, though and give you my thoughts. Ann

I agree completely when you say how thrilling it is to barter successfully; you've saved money as well as doing someone else a service. Brilliant!

Hi, bill! Back from France late last night and trying to play catch-up again! It's so great to be back home & back to hubpages.

We barter quite often here in our little court of neighbours but a recent example happened just the other day in France. We had arranged to visit a campsite for a couple of days, prior to leaving our caravan on it for the year (part storage but also for us or the children to use it now and then). The day after we arrived, my partner Arthur helped the owner out with his concrete mixing and laying as he was in a hurry to finish off the surround to his swimming pool before the main season.

We had a drink with him (as payment!), then he said he wouldn't charge us for storing the caravan as it didn't really cost him anything. The only condition was that we bring him his favourite tea from England when we go in July. This we agreed to gladly!

Other concessions were the arranged; the clearing of chalet gutters was done & we offered to help him with his tennis court. At this rate we'll be living in France as groundsman and receptionist!!

I think everyone should go back to a barter system; it's so much more rewarding. It doesn't have to happen concurrently if people don't have the means but when we trust people it is a marvellous thing.

Hope you & Bev are well & enjoying life, hope the book is going well and hope you have a great weekend.

Ann

This is great Bill, it is great when you can help your neighbors and they help you in return. It is quite a coincidence that I mentioned on another hub today that I belonged to a battering system in our community called LETS (Local Exchange Trading System), where you exchange goods or services with one another and accumulate points which you can also use to pay for things instead of money. Check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_exchange_tradin...

Bill, I'm a firm believer in bartering. I do it all the time. At tax time I barter my services with friends who need their taxes done. Usually, it's a carton of cigarettes (I know, I know I hear you). My neighbors and I barter yard work or services for the use of tools. I barter with my friend who owns an organic food store. When my pineapples are in season, we trade. I've bartered editing services for testimonials.

I wish our country would go back to the barter system. Money really is the root of all evil.

You are one creative and resourceful guy!

so true....but i'm little confused about the ideas...

i mean like ideas are sold or used!!

I love bartering! One of the ways that I use barter is when I go to Baker's Creek's Festivals as a vendor. Every first Sunday of the month from March-October their festival has vendors, and shows, ect. Since I am a vendor, I have a chance to visit with the other vendors. I trade what I have for what they have. I've got a quilt, a hand wood-burned etched gourd container, herbal products, and food. Best of all, I have made lots of new friends along the way.