I heard an awful rumor the other day. Someone told me that we were in this awful recession and no one had any money to spend. Even worse, no one can borrow money! Because of this our economy is feeling quite frozen.
The real downside to this news is we have millions of people out there with some type of skill, and they aren’t able to put it to use to benefit mankind. Ultimately that is the goal of everything we’re doing. So now that money is tight everywhere, we have to figure out a way to keep the economy moving.
When the use of currency as an economic medium dwindles we must go back to the days of bartering in order to stay productive and maximize efficiency.
I’ve compiled a list of bartering tools I could use in my everyday life. They either help me save money, time, or some other precious resource that I need. Don’t expect everything to apply to you, but do expect to feel inspired to think of some bartering tools you could use in your own personal economy.
Babysitting – With so many parents out there strapped for cash but still needing to get away from their awful little rugrats, I know there are plenty of people out there that would love someone to watch their little brats for a few hours. So long as they’ve got a computer, I’ll just work on my blog.
Investment Advice – I’ve been doing this for years in some capacity and continue to today. It’s shocking how many people don’t know you can get a company match just by contributing to a 401(k). Further still, the ones that do contribute don’t have a clue what they’re invested in. I can explain the basics of mutual funds and investing to help them get a foothold on retirement.
Errands – I like to walk on my lunch break and listen to my iPod. Since I work in a downtown area I go passed the post office, library, dry cleaners, and dozens of restaurants. I can take care of your errands, pick up your lunch, listen to my iPod and still get in all the exercise I was planning to get.
Hair Cuts – My college roommate and I have done this for years to save money. We just buzz each others hair. My fiance takes care of it for me these days, but I know a thing or two about cutting men’s hair now. We’ve even got the proper facilities at work to make it a simple and quick procedure.
These are just four things I could potentially do for the people around me. Now the whole thing about bartering is the “I scratched your back now you scratch mine” thing. So here are four services I would like in return for helping you out.
Pack A Lunch – For some reason I have a really tough time packing my lunch every day. For whatever reason, I’m just rarely inspired to do it until right before I have to leave for work. To make matters worse, I’m rarely inventive enough o do more than the standard sandwich, apple, and veggies. Pack me your leftovers or just make me a sandwich. You save me time and money, while allowing me to try your food.
Drive Me To Work – I love to drive, but I love even more to be driven. Let me sit in silence and relax or play on my iPhone. If we’re buddies we can even chit-chat. I save gas, and mileage on my car. The environment will like me for it too.
Give Me Books - Reading is fairly new to me. I just learned how to last year. Many people read tons more than I ever could, and many of those people buy all the books they read. Give me your books, I’ll either read them, sell them on Amazon, or both.
Just Do Something Thoughtful – Sometimes I don’t know what I want in return. When it comes to investment advice much of the reward I get is simply the knowledge that I helped people understand their finances better. So make me some cookies, brag about me to a friend, or just pay it forward to someone else. Remember this is about improving the world for everyone.
So these are some things I can do and what I might want in return for doing them. One of the big bonuses of this system is the fact that doing all of this is tax free. A babysitter technically must report income from their time worked. But I don’t think the IRS really cares if I take your leftover pizza home with me as payment.
What can you do to barter your way into this economy?
Photo: irina slutsky
 By The Weakonomist |
The Weakonomist is the founder of Weakonomics. Clicking the picture of the puppy will tell you more about him. If you like what you're reading consider subscribing to the blog, following him on Twitter, and checking out the related posts below. Please consider a donation if you really enjoy Weakonomics. Also keep in mind that nothing I say can be construed as financial advice. |
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