The New Barter Economy

Image from myggm.org

As prices rise and employment rates fall, most of us are looking for a better way to obtain the necessities of life. For thousands of years, people lived well by using a barter system -- that is, they traded goods and services for what they needed.

A barter economy is just what we need these days! Think of all the ways in which this could free up cash that is required for dealing with landlords, utility companies, and other businesses. Instead of paying a day care facility, you might organize a babysitting cooperative with other young parents in your area.


Instead of buying a new refrigerator or picking up a used one at a yard sale, perhaps you can trade your talent or skill for a slightly-used but still working appliance that is just taking up space in your neighbor's garage.

Instead of storing old furniture in your basement, why not offer it to someone who can really use it on  Freecycle?

Do you love to read but hate paying huge amounts of money for a book you're only going to read once? Aside from your local library, you also have the option of signing up for Paperback Swap, which  allows you to indulge your passion for reading while keeping books in circulation for others to share. A group called Swap A CD makes the same thing available to music lovers.



Hundreds or perhaps thousands of share and barter groups exist and can easily be found through a simple search of the internet.

Whenever possible, it's best to barter within your community, however. Why? Because neighbors who band together often discover that they can help each other in more ways than they ever imagined. A strong network of friends is the core of a healthy community, and a safety net when times get really bad. The Survivalist Blog explains it this way: "In a post collapse world, barter would be essential. Currency may have little value, while the value of certain things like sawing needles and matches for example, could increase dramatically. Put back what you will need for your own survival first, then and only after ensuring you have enough supplies such as food, water, water filters, first-aid, fuel, weapons and ammunition etc, to meet your own needs should you worry about stocking up on trade goods."

If barter sounds like something that would work for you, you may want to start keeping a list of all the things you have to trade -- not just tangible items, but skills, talents, crafting abilities, knowledge that you can teach, food that you produce, and so forth. Remember that YOU are an important part of a barter economy but only if you are able to provide as much as you take.