BARTERING: a medium in which goods or services are directly exchanged for other goods and/or services without a common unit of exchange (without the use of money)
Do you remember reading about how some people used to pay their visit to the doctor visit with a chicken? Or that Mrs. Smith baked a couple of apple pies in exchange for a quilt made by the lady down the road? Well, in today's economy, bartering is making a serious comeback in some places.
Back in March when we were getting ready for Goose's wedding, and we had a shower here, a shower there, dinner here, luncheons, etc. The cost for all of these things can be a little mind-boggling at times.
Well, when we went to finally went to get our hair trials done for the wedding, I asked my hairstylist and good friend, A, how much all of this was going to cost me when she was done. I was flabbergasted! Jokingly, I said, "Hey, would you like to barter with me for everything I need to have done to my hair from now until the wedding so I don't have to take out a small loan?" "Hmmm?" she said. "What can you do? What do you make?"
"Let's make this easy," I said. "What do YOU NEED to have done/made?" "Hmmm.....wait a minute, I have just the thing. I need pillows for my window seat re-covered. I have the material and everything. Do you think you could do 5 pillows for me?" "ABSOLUTELY!" I replied! I really think I got the better end of the deal!
Here is a picture of one of the pillows that I re-covered for my friend. We both got something that we needed, and neither of us had to lay out any money.I think I will see next if my dentist will barter to fix my missing tooth! I'll never know unless I ask!!
What a great way to get what you need. I might have to try this method too.
ReplyDeleteNow I like the sound of that. I wonder what my dentist would like to have done for him.
ReplyDeleteI can bake, I have a few antiques, let's see...