To think we should promote a barter culture?

[FiveMetresUp]

I was just reading on another thread about people who struggle to cook as they are so busy or just generally not very good at cooking. There are also other people who are great cooks but rubbish and cleaning. There are also other people who have skills such as hairdressing or decorating.

Do you think we should promote a culture where we can swap skills rather than paying for things?

No thank you.

Yeah then when it comes to paying my mortgage and bills, I can just offer to cut their hair 🤣

What about those of us who are shit at everything? 😅

I already barter my skills and expertise for cash

It would be great in theory but I think unfortunately humanity requires more generosity than many have, for that to work.

For instance, I am very good at DIY. I could put some shelves up for you and plumb in your washing machine. It would take me 2 hours. You could spend 2 hours cleaning my house or ironing, or something else.

Honestly, I thought this idea would get a better reception than it is 😂

Most people do, yes. Called work.
Hair dressers, cooks and cleaners work too.

Maybe we could have some sort of token that we could swap our skills for, and then use that token to buy someone else’s skills?

Come on @XenoBitch , there must be SOMETHING you're good at 😁

I think it should be called.... money.

But what if you've got no money? This system would benefit these people the most, I think.

I am a Jane of all trades, and master of none.

😃

You can of course do this with people privately. I clean a woman's home about every 4 weeks. She gives me a full body massage about every 6 weeks.

My husband does this with various people, too. Turns up with all sorts.

I think it would only work if based on time, otherwise it's too like money. In my fantasy world where everyone thinks this is a good idea I would swap the following:

Things I am offering:
DIY
Painting
Cooking vegan meals
Writing CVs
Life coaching (apparently I'm really good).

Things I would like in return:
Cleaning
Ironing
Helping DD with homework.

Yeah until the shelf falls and hits my kid on the head, and you flood my house.

And I burn your expensive blouse and break your expensive vase.

There are these kinds of schemes that have been around for a while, but they don't seem to have taken off really

https://www.letslinkuk.net/

How does it pay the bills. I can't go to janesburys and ask for free food in return for cleaning the shop floor.

Yeah I wish it was easier to swap skills - nifty way of not having to pay tax too for things you'd otherwise have paid for.

I was offering music lessons in exchange for dance lessons recently but didn't get much traction. This is my sign to try again!

Well, I do know someone who paid for a plumber-call out (out of hours, emergency) with a threesome.

If you've got skills, why aren't you using them and earning money? If you've got no skills, you've nothing to barter.

This could start off small, and escalate and be something great... like that chap who started off with a paper clip and swapped it for things until he ended up with a house.

But you don't have to pay for the things you get through bartering. Some of those things will be necessities. Some will be luxuries.

Takes a dance teacher to match up a music teacher.
My guess is it's hard to organise.

I wouldn’t eat food from someone’s home that couldn’t clean. 😳
It is always good if you have a service to trade. Maybe being more helpful to other people who are struggling would be a better option, which I already do for neighbours if I can, community spirit is definitely dying slowly.