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Reported by: Amanda Evans/ WCIA 3 News
Thursday, Apr 23, 2009 @06:20pm CST
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.
"Basically what we want to do is have a deck, have it come evenly with the home," A builder quoted rick and erin smith more than 3-thousand dollars to add a deck on to the front of their home. It's money they don't have. So Rick started to look at what he did have. He looked no further than his green thumb. He'll do your yard work.
"Some of the work that I do isn't cheap either, You build his deck. It's very tedious work with all these rocks Smith posted his offer on Craig's list and the bartering was on. Picking them up and laying them down," said Smith.
He's already got three guys lined up to work. They won't pay cash. They'll pay with their time. Hour for hour. Whether it's handy work or manual labor, even businesses are looking to barter if it means saving a buck.
"Without volunteers there's no way we could move the stuff that we move," said W.I.T.S. director, Trina Bailey. She runs a non profit electronics recycling group that can't afford to hire anyone. So they're dealing in trade.
"We offer computers in exchange for people helping us," said Bailey.
Help carry a computer and you can walk out with one. For a price you can't beat, free.
"A lot of lower class, middle class upper class is starting to feel the pinch of the economy so it really does work out for everyone involved," said Bailey.
If you can put away your wallet and put on your work belt you could save big.
Experts say bartering might be the answer for your tight budget.
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