Barter your way to deals and freebies

March 5, 9:42 PMFrugal Family ExaminerMelissa Newby

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Is there truly no such thing as a free lunch?  Maybe not, but trading what you already own or a talent you have in exchange for something you need or want is just about as cool as getting it for free. 

Bartering is when goods or services are exchanged between people without any money changing hands.  For example, you might need your living room painted, but don't know how.  Your neighbor who is a skilled painter might want help with planting flowers, something you're good at.  You help him plant flowers.  He helps you paint your living room.   You both benefit from the exchange, and except for your time, it's completely free. 

One of the best examples of bartering that can help busy parents is a babysitting co-op, which you can find through  local Moms clubs.  Members of the co-op earn 'time' for each hour they watch another member's children.  Then when you need somebody to watch your child(ren), you can cash in your time.  Just imagine a trip to the grocery store with no distractions, no tantrums, and no trying to rush through the frozen section before your toddler completely melts down.  My kids are good at the grocery store and a trip alone still sounds appealing. 

You can also barter for items you need.   Consider trading baby clothes.  We did this and ended up with an entire wardrobe for our daughter, which has made it easier to resist buying those adorable little girly dresses.   We've also traded toys with friends.  Our kids don't miss the toys they've outgrown and are happy to have new ones to play with. 

To make sure bartering works, make sure that everybody understands the terms of the deal up front.  Even though no money is being exchanged, the goods and services being echanged still have value.  Bartering only works with everybody involved feels like they got a fair deal. 

Get creative when looking for people to barter with.  If you need some roofing done, it doesn't hurt to call some companies and ask if they are interested in bartering.  Talk with friends, coworkers, neighbors and anybody else you run into.  As your network grows, so does the variety of goods and services you might have access to.

As with anything, do your research and play it safe if you are dealing with somebody you don't know personally.