by osamenor Fri Nov 09, 2012 9:05 am
I'm nowhere near your area, either, but I have a suggestion about bartering: is there a timebank in your area?
The way a timebank works is, everyone offers skills, and sometimes items, that they have--it can be something like energy training or drumming lessons; it can be material objects, such as drums; it can be services such as childcare, fixing someone's car, helping someone plant a garden, etc. Whenever you perform a service, the person you did it for pays you an hour of credit for each hour you spent on it--credits are tracked online--and whenever you receive a service, you pay the person who gave it to you an hour of credit for each hour they spent.
That way, you could receive a service--say, energy training--from someone who doesn't necessarily need what you have to offer, and you can give your service to someone who can't necessarily offer what you need. Meanwhile, those other people can offer their services to, and receive the services they need from, others in the timebank. So it's a form of bartering, but it doesn't require a direct exchange.
I'm working with a timebank in my area, and I've found it a great way to get services I can't pay money for, and to help out other people without anyone feeling that they're being put upon or taking advantage. Plus, if you're offering a service there that you also do for money, it's one possible way to acquire reputation, references, and new paying clients. Someone you give that service to through the timebank could become your paying client down the road, or could recommend you to others who would be able to pay you.
Home
Log in
