What Ken and I do behind closed doors is none of your concern, little missy!

i've often wondered what the world would be like if everyone just shared things with each other.

Published October 1, 2008 | A A A Deals by Kelli B. Grant (Author Archive)
In Economic Downturn, More Turn to Barter

Call it a sign of a dismal economy and struggling financial system: the resurgence of barter.

Bartering, or the exchange of goods and services without money, has become a more common solution as family budgets tighten. In July, consumers listed nearly 142,000 ads on the barter section of Craigslist, a 96% increase from the year before, according to site statistics. Other sites report a shift in the things traded. "Before, it seemed like people did it casually as a way to recycle unwanted stuff, like kids' clothes," says Jessica Hardwick, founder of bartering site SwapThing.com. "Now it's more out of need." Recent listings requested back-to-school essentials like backpacks, textbooks and even uniforms.

While approaching the mechanic about exchanging a weekend of pet-sitting services may seem absurd and a little creepy, most people are already familiar with the basics of such tactics. "We barter in other ways all the time," insists Jeanne Hurlburt, a professor of sociology at Louisiana State University. "If I give you something, I expect a favor of equal or greater value in return. Every relationship has give and take." You might mow an elderly neighbor's lawn in exchange for some tomatoes from her garden, for example, or swap must-read books among friends with similar tastes.

Online offers run the gamut from piano lessons in exchange for size 10 shoes, to a gym membership in exchange for help moving. Home swapping -- where families trade places for a cheap vacation -- is also rising in popularity.

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