Barter is the new Black

My long standing readers know that our lovely recession has had an effect on us all … positive and not so positive.

For me?

My contract work ( and therefore my income) had reduced by over 50%

I see that as both a challenge and an opportunity.

In the last year I have been Money Poor and Time Wealthy … and I’ve tried things I never had the time to do before:

• developed Sunny Funny Garden
• gone on the Organic Food Growing Course
• wrote heaps more on this blog
• promoted business and activities in Ballinamore on the blog
• developed SKIL2
• gave away my Life Dreaming workbook for free
• began developing a Life Dreaming course and site

And … I’ve had to get creative about the ways I get things … with very little money.

I’ve given my time free to some businesses (helping in the Forge; writing about businesses; developing small business web sites) … and they gave me coal and walking boots and discounts and other things … all very welcome exchanges.

I’m working on rebuilding my cash flow … and in time … SKIL 2 and Life Dreaming will make money.

Barter is the new black … I keep asking people and finding ways to exchange something for something … my time … my skills … for their products or services.

And other people are doing the same.

I’ve made quite a few new friends through this blog and many of them have dreams that cost time and money.

I’m all for supporting each other.

So … I want to introduce you to Kimme and her blog … Irish Cottage Dreams.

Kimme and her husband have a dream of owning an irish cottage somewhere around Ballinamore … I told you it’s a great place that attracts great people.

She is doing all sorts of things (all legal!) to gather the deposit for a mortgage. She has car boot sales and lives well within her means.

She is also very crafty … in the  nicest possible way.

I want to showcase some of the things she makes.

They’re all for sale.

And here’s the really really interesting thing.

Kimme understands that we all are feeling the pinch so here’s what she’s offered.

You set what you think is a fair price for something … and she’ll send it to you (adding package and post of course).

Amazing.

Here are her lovely hand made delights … I love the tea cosies.

made from Irish wool … look like they could hold a camera, mobile or an ipod … lovely

I love the tea cosies … made from acrylic wool so they are easy to wash off tea spills

Kimme also designs packs of cards

Kimme makes these with her  90 year old grandmother … she sells them in packs of 6 (the cards … not the grandmothers!)

Pam gave me one and they are  delightful … real lace.

The card packs do have a price –

Price: £3.75 GBP 5.23 USD 4.05 EUR – that’s for 6.

Another blogger who has become a friend is Pam … at White O’Morn Cottage blog.

Pam has kindly given me a loan of her cottage for 4 days so I can have a quiet retreat.

And not only does Pam have a blog … she also has 2 other sites that sell cottage crafts (Such Pretty Old Things)

and vintage clothes, jewellery & other lovely goodies – Vintage Retro Lingerie

So … if I hadn’t started blogging … and if my cash flow hadn’t dried up … I never would have thought of bartering.

There’s always some sun shining near the pile of dung.

What would you barter?

slan

Liz

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