Today’s post is from Kathryn Vercillo.

One of the goals of simple living is to reduce the time that you spend doing work that you’re not passionate about and to replace it with time spent doing the things that you truly enjoy. One of the key ways to do this that often gets overlooked in the modern world is the option of bartering for the products and services that you need. You can offer products and services that you already have or that you enjoy doing to benefit others who in turn can provide you with the things that you need. You’ll be able to work less because you’ll be spending less money.

Basics of Bartering

The barter system was used a long time ago but was then replaced by the money system that we use today. Bartering is now making a come-back because of the fact that many people would prefer to trade their own goods and services than to have to work long hours to have the money to pay for those things. Bartering, at its very basic level, simply means that you trade something that you have for something that you want.

Why Barter?

Bartering allows you the freedom to offer different products and services to get your needs met. When you work at a job, you probably do the same basic tasks day in and day out. When you barter, you can do many different things that you enjoy to achieve the same goal. For example, let’s say that you currently spend money on a housecleaning service. Instead of working at your job to earn the money to pay the housekeeper, you could barter for housecleaning. In exchange for getting your house cleaned, you might offer goods that you make (homemade paper, soaps, quilts, whatever you enjoy crafting). Alternatively, you may trade your time doing babysitting, dogwalking, editing, graphic design or whatever it is that you like to do that your housekeeper needs to have done. You spend your time creatively and still get the things that you need.

How to Begin Bartering

To start bartering, you’ll want to sit down and make a list of the things that you can offer to someone else. Brainstorm everything that you are good at doing and that you also enjoy. If you’re a great cook or love to sew or you’re efficient at shopping for others then those things should go on your list.

Next you’ll want to figure out what you’d like to barter for. The first step is to identify all of the things that you currently pay for, especially services such as housecleaning or petsitting or daycare. Next you should add anything that you’d like to have but currently can’t afford (such as regular massage therapy sessions). Knowing what you need and what you can offer in exchange is the foundation for getting started.

Who to Barter With

Once you know what you’re interested in exchanging, you need to figure out who to barter with. Some of the places to look include:

  • The people currently providing your services. You’d be surprised how many people would be willing to switch from a payment system to a barter system if you’d just ask. Even established businesses may be willing to offer a full or partial trade if you have a service (such as accounting or online promotion) that they can use.
  • The people already in your life. Start putting the word out there among friends and family that you’re interested in bartering. Tell them to spread the word to their friends. Before you know it, a small barter system will be in place.
  • Check your online classifieds. Craigslist is an example of a classifieds site that offers a barter section. There are pros and cons to using a site like Craigslist (you’re at risk of scams) but it may be worth a look.
  • Set up your own barter site with a blog. If you develop an online presence, you can get what you need. One example of such a site is BarterSauce.

Keep The Barter System Simple

Bartering can add a lot of benefits to your life. However, it can also get out of hand and make your life more complicated if you’re not careful. It’s important to make sure that the time you spend bartering is time that you enjoy. Some tips to assist you in keeping bartering simple include:

  • Only trade for items and services that you truly want. People will offer you all sorts of stuff but you should stick to your short list of needs and wants when bartering.
  • Determine what your time is worth. Even if you love what you’re doing for barter, your life can get complicated if you’re not getting your time’s worth out of the situation. Figure out what your hourly work is worth and try to make an even trade. For example, if you feel that your time is worth $40/hour then you should trade an hour’s worth of work for $40 of goods or services.
  • Set boundaries and learn to say no. It’s tempting to commit to too many trades or to allow people bartering with you to delay their part of the bargain. Be fair and firm when bartering.

Bartering is a great way to get what you need without spending money or having to work too hard to pay for the costs. Done correctly, it builds a sense of community and allows you flexibility in how you get your needs met. Start slowly and see if bartering is for you!

Guest post by Kathryn Vercillo. Kathryn is a writer for Promotionalcodes.org.uk which gives away free promotion codes</a> and also publishes a frugal blog.

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