Recession Proof GLP... The Power of Barter & Trade

At one time or another everyone ends up needing help from a tradesman, be it a plumber, mechanic, roofer, handyman, etc.

I'm a skilled tradesman and right now I have more side jobs lined up than I can handle.

Almost all newspapers have a "For Trade" classified section. Better still, Craigslist is loaded with ads for bartering and trading.

Since I have all this work lined up I had to find someone to paint my house. Went to Craigslistg and found someone looking to trade house painting for an older snowmobile. I have a few that I'd been thinking about unloading. Called the guy up, got a few references - and in a few weeks he'll be here to take care of painting the house. That's $$$ I won't be shelling out.

Last month I went to do a side job and eyeballed a nice little dirtbike in my client's shed. So I asked if he'd be interested in trading the bike for my work. I laughed my ass off when he practically ran to the shed to get the bike out and start it up. It was a hell of a trade - the dirtbike is worth way more than the hours I put in working that side job. But the client didn't have to shell out any cash and unloaded the bike that was taking up space in his shed.

These are two examples of bartering/trading. I've been bartering and trading for years. Of course you have to be careful and know what you're getting in exchange for your time and work.

My wife trades babysitting, runs errands, shops and cooks for an elderly neighbor, tutors, and writes resumes - sometimes for cash, but she's also scored an oak bedroom set, jewelry, perennial flowers for the garden, all kinds of stuff.

Everyone has some kind of trade or skill to use for bartering and trading.

Anyone else out there doing this? Got any success stories, ideas or suggestions to toss out there?

As the economy gets worse, more people are gonna be looking to work out ways to trade and barter.
Check out Craigslist and your paper. The lists for bartering and trading are huge. So if you need a service or have one to offer, take a look around for some good deals.