Staff and wire reports • April 20, 2009 • From Lansing State Journal

Despite their modern popularity, paper and plastic still haven't snuffed out the most ancient form of currency.

Stuff.

And with a national economy in an historic slump, folks increasingly are setting aside their cash and debit cards to barter for goods and services.

"You can trade for most of the things you might want," said Kathy Valentine, owner of The Plant Professionals in Lansing.

Valentine said she's long traded her flowers and plants for things otherwise would have to pay cash for: snowplowing, lawn care and even electrical work and painting.

No money,no problem. The economy has people making a trade and walking away without paying a dime. It all comes down to an old fashioned idea, bartering. Technology has transformed an ancient way of doing business. In fact Craig's list has a bartering section that's up 100-percent from last year. Tons of listings pop up offering to trade goods and services. Those who are bartering say paying with elbow grease is paying off.

Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009

MERIDIAN -- The oldest form of currency is making a comeback. Bartering was once the only way to do business -- then cash took over. But with the slumping economy, many people are using bartering as a way to get by. With the ability to post ads online for free, many business owners are taking advantage and posting not just their services -- but offers of trade.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 04/10/09   5:31 pm   |   Updated: 04/10/09   5:36 pm

WASHINGTON — Stories abound of bartering during the Great Depression. From the doctor who got paid in chickens to the grocer who clothed his family by trading food for shoes, resourceful folks swapped what they could to make ends meet.

Welcome to the "Great Recession," with swapping again on the upswing. Craigslist.org, the free classified-ad Web site, reports that traffic is up 100 percent on its bartering boards compared to last year.

There are offers of construction help for a laptop, a Nintendo Wii for a BlackBerry, skin care for hair extensions. You name it, you likely can trade it in this new, old economy.

By Michael Caputo, Minnesota
Public Radio April 21, 2009

Minneapolis — Kevin Burns runs a small Web design business from his Minneapolis home. At a desk in his living room, Burns shows a Web page he built for a local remodeling contractor.

This whole month, Action News will show you how your family can survive the recession. One way is by bartering. Trading skills and services can be extremely useful in tough times. These days no one wants to part with a dollar. By using the bartering system, you don't have to.

Goods traded with no cash exchange

Posted By: The Daily Times
Written By: Andrew Ostroski • Staff Writer • April 27, 2009

SELBYVILLE -- The ads on the World Wide Web are showing up with more regularity: "Will build steps for dental work," "Will provide flooring help for transmission install," and even the simple, "Will work for food."

By: Marketwire .
Posted Apr. 28, 2009 07:05 AM

In a Troubled Economy, Hotel Executives Show Fiscal Responsibility by Using Barter to Unleash Value of Inventory

PARSIPPANY, NJ -- (Marketwire) -- 04/28/09 -- The tentacles of a volatile economy are permeating the travel industry. Occupancies are drastically plummeting due to pull-back in demand, with more and more unsold hotel rooms available. More than ever, insightful hoteliers are on the barter bandwagon... converting the value of their excess room inventory into 'currency' that helps finance marketing.

WHO NEEDS DOLLARS? Ken Lineberger of the Wine Tailor increased his sales using a bartering service.

CAUGHT in the credit vise of 2008 that is threatening their livelihoods, small-business owners are turning in droves to an age-old source of commerce: the exchange of goods and services, or barter, to hold on to their precious cash.