When we consider the benefits of bartering, it’s easy to understand why it has remained an effective way for people to trade goods and services for centuries. Despite how you personally feel about the current financial climate, bartering is a great way to build a business network and reduce your expenses. A financial crisis can lead people to make rash decisions that aren’t always in their best interests. As a result, many people are hesitant to spend money on anything but essential services or products. Bartering provides an alternative way to acquire goods and services without having to spend your cash directly! Whether you’re looking for something specific as part of your business or just trying to save some money at home, these top bartering items will come in handy should we see another recession.
What is bartering and how does it work?
Bartering is a type of trade where you exchange one item or service for another item or service without using any cash. Although it’s most commonly associated with farmers who exchange livestock, it’s also common in other industries, including the business world. It’s important to understand that bartering is different from cash or credit transactions. If you and another party exchange goods or services and you each use cash to pay your bills, you’re conducting a business transaction. Bartering, on the other hand, lets you get something in return for the work you do, even if you’re not being paid in cash.
Important bartering supplies
There are many different types of supplies to consider when stocking your bartering closet. You’ll want to make sure you have an ample supply of each item to ensure you can quickly and easily complete a trade at a moment’s notice. Food and Drink – Most bartering transactions will take place at the kitchen table or on the living room couch. To ensure your guests are well-fed and hydrated, you’ll want to keep a wide variety of food and drink nearby. Paper and Pens – Whenever you’re about to complete a trade, you’ll need to draw up a contract. This document will outline the specifics of your trade, including who, what, when, how, and why. Without paper and pens, you won’t be able to write up a contract quickly and efficiently. Having plenty of both on hand ensures you’ll never be caught without supplies when you need them most!
1. Produce and grocery items
Vegetables, Fruits – Whether you grow them in your own backyard or buy them at the grocery store, fresh produce is a great item to barter with. You can also freeze many fruits and veggies to extend their shelf life, allowing you to stockpile them for longer periods of time. Dairy – Milk, cheese, and other dairy products make great bartering goods because they have a long shelf life. You can also use these items to make delicious meals at home. Grains – Barley, oats, rye, and wheat are all easy to store grains that can help make delicious meals as well as serve as great bartering items.
2. Home-based supplies
Services – One of the most common bartering items is a service contract. If you offer services, like coaching, consulting, or accounting, you can trade these services for other goods and services. This is a great option if you don’t want to keep a large inventory of goods on hand and prefer to focus on providing a service. Tools – Tools are a great option for bartering since there are so many different types that are used in so many different industries. Hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, and pliers are just a few examples of tools that can be used in many different fields. Equipment – Similar to tools, equipment can be used in many different industries. Bartering equipment means you’ll have to have the room to store it and the budget to purchase it in the first place. If you do, though, equipment like computers and furniture are great items to trade in a bartering situation.
3. Cleaning supplies
Bags – Most households have something they use in the kitchen and something they use in the bathroom. If you have these supplies on hand, you can easily trade them for other items. Be sure to keep your bags clean, though, as you don’t want to trade dirty bags for clean supplies. Fragrances – Depending on the scents you choose; fragrances make great bartering goods. You can stock your closet with scents like vanilla, peppermint, and lavender.
4. Business services
Accounting and Tax Services – If you provide accounting services or are a certified public accountant, you may be able to trade your work for other goods and services. You can also trade your services for a reduction in your tax bill. Legal Services – Lawyers can often provide legal advice as a bartering service. If you have a legal background, you can also work with other people to help them finish their own legal case. Marketing Services – You don’t have to be a marketing expert in order to help other business owners. If you have marketing experience, you can provide advice and review marketing materials. If you’re not an expert, you can still proofread materials and provide general advice.
5. Emergency Supplies
Old Clothing – Do you have old and torn clothing that you don’t wear? Don’t throw them in the trash! Instead, keep a few bags of clothes on hand in case of an emergency clothing shortage. You can also trade these items for other supplies like food, cleaning supplies, and paper. Old Books – Old books also make great bartering goods. You don’t have to keep these books around for posterity’s sake. Instead, consider them as items you can use to trade for other supplies during a financial downturn.
6. Tools and Equipment
Tools and equipment that can be used to build items are great bartering items. You can use these supplies to trade for other goods, or you can use them to build additional items to trade. You may even be able to take some of these materials to a scrapyard and trade them for cash. A wide variety of tools and equipment fall into this category, including Ladders Electric lawnmowers, Tools and equipment for home improvement projects Tools for gardening Carpentry equipment like saws and hammers.
7. Entertainment and Comfort Items
Books – If you have a large library of books on hand, you can use them as bartering goods. This is especially helpful if you want to trade for other paper items, like books, newspapers, or magazines. You may also be able to trade your books for services like gardening or home repair. Magazines – Just like books, magazines can be used to trade for other paper items and services. If you have a retro gaming mag, you may even be able to trade it for old video games! Music CDs – Similarly to magazines and books, CDs can be traded for other CDs, including music and audiobooks.
Wrapping up
The best way to prepare for a financial crisis is to build up your bartering closet. Keep a wide variety of supplies on hand and make sure you’re ready to trade them for whatever you need at a moment’s notice. Keep in mind that you can use bartering to save money even if you don’t think you’re in financial trouble. It’s a great way to save money and reduce your expenses, especially if you’re willing to exchange non-essential items for things you can’t live without!
