Saturday, February 7, 2015

Swap Or Trade It For Fun And Profit

By Beryl Dalton


It's true that one man's trash is another man's treasure. The very item that you never plan to use again may be exactly what a neighbor is looking for. When you swap or trade it, you get something in return other than cash money. This makes the whole thing more fun than a routine shopping trip to the grocery store or the mall.

For instance, fresh home-raised eggs are a valuable commodity. Especially if they are allowed free range, hens may produce more eggs than your family needs at certain times of the year. Selling eggs for cash can help pay for the feed that laying hens require, but this 'hen-fruit' can also be used for barter. A dozen free-range eggs are worth up to four dollars a dozen at farmer's markets everywhere.

Maybe you admire a neighbor's perennial borders, full of color from early spring to the end of fall. Think about offering to barter eggs for bulbs, root divisions, or bushes from that garden instead of shopping at the garden center. Use the money you would have spent at the nursery to buy chicken feed.

You may get other benefits, too - like free planting advice or a better acquaintance with your neighbor. Once word gets out, other neighbors might be willing to trade garden produce, fruit from their trees, or unwanted items from their garages for your fresh eggs. Pretty soon, the whole community may be into swapping and bartering.

People hold designated swap meets, where part of the fun is never knowing what you'll find while trying to unload some item you no longer want. You may see something you don't even need, but you know that a friend would gladly trade for it. This friend just happens to have an unused pottery planter that you've had your eye on. Of course, anything goes at these meets. Some people may be swapping cars or trucks, while others may swap services: 'I'll paint your house if you rewire my garage."

You can also find opportunities for trading in local classified ads. People often advertise something for sale and also indicate that they are willing to trade their item for something else they want. Perhaps you have the very thing they're looking for.

Shopping is fun, but those with little ready cash may be shut out of the commercial marketplace. However, almost everyone has more things than they can use. Kids grow up and move away, or people downsize after retirement, and suddenly the attic, closets, and garage are bulging. Sure, you can have a yard sale, but bartering is more challenging and probably will net you a far greater return.

People who are good at negotiating may like to barter just for the fun of it. They may start with a few dozen eggs to trade and work up to who knows what before the day is over. This kind of thrill can't be found at the mall or a conventional retail store.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment