Barter, swap, gift: Beyond money
completely alienne mentioned, in a comment about her de-cluttering activities, that she'd used an online book swap. She didn't mention her site, but there are many, ranging from international (Book Mooch) to country-specific, like the UK's Read It Swap It. Strictly speaking, this might not de-clutter, since another book is coming to you, but it's a great way to read to your heart's content without the time limit of a library book. Or you could swap your book for one a friend would enjoy, recycling your book into a gift.
Bartering is on the rise as a way to reduce, recycle, or just participate in a community of support. People willing to propose barter discover, as Michael Phillips and Salli Rasberry said in "The Seven Laws of Money", "there are worlds without money".
U-exchange.com, a member-only site based in Cambridge, MA, includes boards for many countries. They've nearly doubled in the past year, with nearly 50,000 persons enrolled. Some members have very specific requests: a pure bred Arabian horse for a Dodge pickup, for example. Other offerings hint at untold stories: "Boxes and boxes of legal paper for letter paper."
I'm considering a house-swap for a one or two-week vacation, one of the most popular and successful forms of barter; have you ever done it?
Barter offers are posted daily on Craigslist- see "For Sale/Barter" and "Housing Swap" listings.
You can also just plain give stuff away. We used the local board of the the Freecycle Network to give some unused office equipment to a young woman who needed it- as their website says, "changing the world one gift at a time."
I'm eager to hear of anyone's experience with barter or gifting.
Comments
Two people I know did house swaps in Europe. I think the desirability of your area is important--and, I would guess, that Toronto is very desirable. Little town outside New Orleans is not so good (very hot in summer). So one family, ecstatic over a swap in Paris, traded their giant house with pool for a little apartment in the 19th (I think). All the people we knew who knew Paris said "EUUUUUU"--and this proved to be correct. But I should think you could get something excellent.
Glad to see you mention home exchange - it's a great way to travel and save money! Many exchangers will find swaps via Craigslist but, especially for first timers, it pays to join a private members only specialist home exchange site for the guidance and information available to members (including advice on researching locations of homes before agreeing to swap).
I am Canadian but have lived in London for many years, running Home Base Holidays since 1985. We have a very large number of home exchange offers throughout the UK and worldwide. I also publish a blog, Travel the Home Exchange Way, and hope you will visit, or get in touch, if you have any questions about swapping homes.
I am 62 and still interested in fashion so v. glad I found your blog!
And aside from listings in 130 countries, you'll also find several articles and tips to help you find and arrange a swap.
Good luck!
Tony
I also barter my services - my logo was designed by a graphic artist who I did consultations for.
I'm always open to a barter - if it is something I'm interested in I'm happy to exchange services. It's a great idea and way of doing business.
And I check the curbs the week after graduation at our local university town (it's amazing what students throw away).
Shay: Great examples, and I love how you reverse-pick from students!