Why Isn't Barter Popular?

I have a friend whose husband is a contractor. They purchased a run down home and he and his boss would work on it when their construction business slowed down (not as slow as you think it might be). For over a year, while this house was being worked on, they lived in a suite hotel here in our area.

Now, I do not know what they paid, but I am sure they paid by the month. Even in a suite, she didn't have to wash towels, sheets or blankets, they had a fully stocked kitchen, utilities, cable and internet were included.

What helped them, was her husband tiled the bathrooms for a reduction in their rents. In other words, he bartered his skills for something they needed and it worked out great.

My husband recently helped someone hook up the cable to his new television. The man couldn't figure it out all my husband did was hook the connectors to the back of his new television and the man came over a few days later and cut and trimmed our lawn for free.

I need a hair cut and would love to exchange home made pumpkin bread, housekeeping, pet sitting or house sitting for that service.

But bartering is not tangible to people. They have no money to place in their hands and so they don't want to do it. Others are afraid of being ripped off. My brother-in-law once bartered very expensive dental work for repairs on the dentists vintage car. Both took time, but were willing to trust each other.

School pictures are expensive every year. There are so many wonderful photographers out there, I would love to barter with them for a family photo sessions.

I can't afford to pay someone to quilt a quilt I make, but I could maybe barter with them in other ways.

Yes, I think bartering is a pretty cool thing!