I just heard a great newsclip on swapping for services and it reminded me of the many swaps I have done through out the years. With today’s economy it is a great idea to swap for items you would normally pay for.
There are many online sites for swapping and some sites that offer free items like Freecycle. I have swapped for many items. One Christmas I was able to swap for the majority of my gifts and that was wonderful!
So how do you begin?
- Determine what craft or service you can swap for
- Post your interests in swapping online or via email to family and friends
- Have a swapping party - have guests bring items they want to swap and swap away
- Join swap groups online
I have swapped for online advertising, web design, Christmas and Birthday gifts, plumbing work, carpentry, lawn work, painting, car detailing, haircuts and haircolor, cheer privates, etc….
My husband and I love to swap, because it has saved us a lot of money and time. Since my hubby is a Chiropractor he has swapped his services. He is also my ‘handy man’ and has swapped his carpentry skills as well. I have swapped my jewelry that I have designed and made, as well as baked goods, children’s clothing, articles I have written and the list goes on.
Back in the day, swapping or bartering was very common. People swapped their home-grown produce and vegetables, farm animals, baked goods, etc. Remember the movie, ‘Doc Hollywood’? He swapped his services for baked goods and a pet pig. We are taking his lead and implenting bartering/swapping in our office and home. It is a great way to save money and share your talents and items you may no longer use that someone else will enjoy.
Have you swapped? Share your stories in my comment area.
The Chronicles continue….
Tags: bartering, crafts, save money, save time, services, swapping
July 17th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I used to be a hairdresser and swapped a new kitchen faucet with sprayer for haircuts. As a designer, I’ve swapped artwork for cards, stationery, candles and other gifts. Bartering is wonderful. If only I could barter every week for a housekeeper!
July 17th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I must say that a lot of my time is spent swapping. Not only is it a great way to exchange items/services you have for items/services you would like, sometimes it’s a way to get a repeat customer. I’ve had many swaps that have been just the beginning of a long business relationship, as well as some eventual friendships.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
We do Paperback Swap and love it. We’ve traded more than 50 books, mostly for free. It’s great.
You can check it out here (my referral link) http://www.paperbackswap.com/i....._by=tag156
July 17th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I barter with my neighbor like when I needed an air conditioner installed and had a george foreman grill to swap.
I run a yahoo group called MakingPECSCards and it is similar to a coupon train where you share the extra coupons in a swap around the country through snail mail. This is for picture cards used for nonverbal children and it goes into Canada as well, which is where one package is now and one returned to me in CA yesterday. We started in Jan 2004 and one time it took six months for a package to make its way around.
There is a new autism site called Autism Free Zone where members give items away to those in the same state. I posted some tvs but no takers yet, it is still growing and I need to spread the word.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Earlier this year my hubby and I swapped out our washer and dryer for a like new washer dryer combo with some great features we didn’t have with the other set. I guess sort of a minor swap compared to some others here but still moving in the right direstion. Hubs and I also like to swap with other couples from time to time. It seems to keep the excitement level up in our marriage !
July 17th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I swap advertising, coaching in exchange for VA services, etc, etc
July 17th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Piggy-backing Crissy up there. I too on occasion will swap my coaching or advertising services out for VA hours or graphics
July 18th, 2008 at 12:25 am
I will swap for things such as graphic design, VA time, etc. mostly online stuff. I have done little to no swapping offline.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Swapped online for business etc. Need to start swapping more offline though. Thanks for bringing this up!
July 18th, 2008 at 2:46 am
My husband and I are the King and Queen of swapping. I swap my services for VA hours on special projects, graphics, products that I really want, and some other online stuff. My husband the electrical contractor currently swapped his services for Chinese lessons. Although he is half-Chinese that side of his family is from Trinidad and spoke a little Chinese but mostly they spoke the Trinidadian language or English. He loves to barter and says that when he was in GA that he lived more on bartering then anything else. He gets free dental and medical with barters too.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I bet we’ll see more and more of this as fears around the economy worsen. It’s kind of cool.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Hi Daisy
Great blog. I enjoy reading your posts and think that you are an insightful and engaging writer. I admire your choice to stay home and know how hare it is to balance everything in life. We want it all but it is a very big challenge to find a momentary balancing point each day. I am a physician with three teens, no hope of not working(!) and am blogging as a way to express myself and enjoy the blessings I have been given. Please visit me at http://www.backcounterbuffet.blogspot.com. I would love advice on improving my blog as I am just five months into it.
Cheers,
Julia
http://www.backcounterbuffet.blogspot.com