Bartering?

[jolenegreen2]

I dont have many skills....LOL...Actually I dont have any. But I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of what Icould do to get some bartering in? Hubby cant really do anything either...he dont know any of that "guy" stuff. LOL. He can mow a lawn...LOL. IDK? It seems like such a good idea for people who have skills etc...

[Greebo]

Mowing lawns can earn hubby a good rate. It can earn you a good rate too. I mean, my lawn is small - like 1/8 an acre, and I'd pay $20 for someone to do it - or would have, before I got all frugal.

But as for ideas - first we need to know what skills you have, and you should be asking yourself, what skills can I acquire?

[rachelj]

How about house cleaning? Baby sitting? Fix Meals?

[frugalandsimple]

Snow removal during winter season

[peanut]

Well sometimes you can access stuff for free on-line in your area...if you're in a more urban center. I get on-line on Kijiji or Full Circles and pick up stuff for free. Sometimes I use it. Sometimes I trade it for something else with people I know in real life.

Other times I do trade the item/skill. A friend grows raspberries. She's trading me raspberries for a camisole I'm going to sew for her.

A gave one lady an old rug strip cutter that I'm not sure if it works. Her daughter wants to take up rug hooking. She wanted to pay me for it. I said if it works she can pay me the $75 it cost me (they are now worth $500). If not, then don't worry about it. She seemed disappointed at the $75, so I suggested that I could always use more stitching and sewing supplies. That brightened her up a lot. She's thinking of that.

When I get things on Full Circles, I sort through the bags/boxes and keep what I want. The rest goes to various groups I'm part of for the members to select from. The net result is that I get rid of it, but they also feel like I've been providing for them, and I am more likely to be offered things in return. Also, they feel more comfortable bringing items to our group meetings to get rid of too.

This approach to bartering works well for me.

Jean

[savvymom]

Running errands?

Assisting elderly with getting to doctor appointments and running their errands? Many working adult children pay well for this help.

Are you crafty? scrapbooking, sewing, etc?

You could cook for busy families in trade for whatever you might be looking for.

Help in a garden or keep a garden

Wash cars inside and out.

Just think of things you do everyday, others may not be good at it or don't want to do it. It never hurts to ask.

[POOTERSMOMMY]

I was thinking about cleaning as well. Do you fix any sort of cake, pie, cookie, fudge, casseroles, ect. that everyone raves about? Can you make jellies or jams? Grass cutting and trimming is invaluable especially for the elderly. If his price is better than the competition he could make a killing. How about shopping for busy people? Many people do that. Laundry? Ironing? Paint a room, for someone.
Do you raise a garden? You could trade veggies for other items. You could do typing on the computer for college students or businesses. Resumes, reports, ect. If you really think about it, you probably have lots of skills that someone else could benefit from.
Good luck to you!

[Momof3girls]

Here are a few ideas:
house cleaning
babysitting
yard work
surplus garden produce
weeding

[momof2joys]

You can always barter your time!!! If you can spare an hour and help someone, they are usually more willing to spare time for you, if you need help watching the kids, running to the store, moving something, etc. Time is always a big help for me!!

[anna021]

My DH and I LOVE, LOVE, and barter system. We're getting a new front door and mudroom built at our house, and DH is installing the jacks through a house as payment. He has used his talent (retired phone man) to get us auto repair many times. I cook 3-4 meals,(actually, dinners) in exchange for our lawn work being done every week.He's a bachelor, and thinks he's getting the better end of the deal, but I know that I am. I have also exchanged haircuts for painting of a couple rooms. Just always make sure your very clear on the exchange of services. Washing and ironing of laundry is a good one. Some people hate that chore. And of course there's always babysitting.

[hippytreehugger4ever]

I make $15 doing minor landscaping and weed pulling, but in some areas of the country you can make much more.

[jolenegreen2]

Ok Ladies. I have my list all ready...thanks to you wonderful gals here! Now how do I go about approaching people or posting it? I could hang a sign at our local post office but how would I word it?

Here is my list I came up with:
Laundry
Run Errends
Housecleaning
Cooking
Yard Work
Weed Pulling
Caring For Pets
Pet sitting
Babysitting
Helping pick Produce from Gardens
Small jobs around the home that people dont have time for or need help with
mowing lawn (Hubby) LOL
Raking Leaves
Fixing Meals
Snow SHoveling (HUBBY)
Garden work
Wash Cars inside and out
Shop for Busy people
House sitting
Managing yard sales

[heartofmine]

Ok Ladies. I have my list all ready...thanks to you wonderful gals here! Now how do I go about approaching people or posting it? I could hang a sign at our local post office but how would I word it?

Here is my list I came up with:
Laundry
Run Errends
Housecleaning
Cooking
Yard Work
Weed Pulling
Caring For Pets
Pet sitting
Babysitting
Helping pick Produce from Gardens
Small jobs around the home that people dont have time for or need help with
mowing lawn (Hubby) LOL
Raking Leaves
Fixing Meals
Snow SHoveling (HUBBY)
Garden work
Wash Cars inside and out
Shop for Busy people
House sitting
Managing yard sales

That is a very good list. Someone else mentioned people paying a lot for someone to sit with elderly parents, take them to the doctor, shopping for them etc. We are having to pay for care for my fil during the days and we are paying out the wazoo so it really is good money if you wanted to consider something like that.

[mike1w]

Anyone know of any barter groups near allentown/bethlehem/easton PA or warren county NJ. I would love to find one.

[mombottoo]

Bartering generally means you trade your skill/time/material goods for the time/skill/material goods of another...money doesn't usually trade hands.

My daughter & her family barter their labor to bring in hay every year and in return they receive 100 bales which they use to feed their livestock.

Sounds to me like you want to start a "hire a hubby, hire a wife" service...which they do have in my area. If you do anything where you will be transporting people in your car make sure you have plenty of liability insurance in case of an accident and if you are going onto other people's property or into their homes you might want to check into getting yourself bonded.