Successful Swaps: How to Barter

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ILLUSTRATION: MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF

Some readers of MOTHER EARTH NEWS share their experiences with bartering. Without money on the table, the found that life can be a little bit more fun!

Exchanging Products for Services

I’ve never been much of a “horse trader,” but I recently took an unpracticed plunge into bartering . . . and now I’m hooked! Here’s the story of my first (but not last) swap: My mouth is a shining example of modern dental artistry. From the days of baby teeth to the present time, I’ve spent what has seemed like a godly portion of my spare hours slouched in an elevated reclining chair while a pair of hands tinkered with my pearly whites.

Well, the day finally dawned when my front chompers just couldn’t accommodate another filling and I was faced with either having what was left of those biters removed and an artificial plate put in, or investing in some expensive caps to protect my teeth. Furthermore — to add to my dilemma — I simply didn’t have enough ready cash to pay for either option.

After pondering my pocketbook problem for a spell, though, I came up with what I thought would be a perfect swap. I’d heard that the doctor’s wife had a fondness for fine jewelry . . . and I owned a lovely diamond ring that had once belonged to my mother.

  • Published on Mar 1, 1982
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