A barter way to do things

Some businesses and professions have been hurting during this economic down slide. Personal Training has been one of them. When money is tight, no one is going to run out and hire someone to get them in shape when it's hard enough as it is to put gas in the car. It's a luxury service, not a necessity. This is why I love online training; it's a fraction of the cost for one-on-one sessions, making it more affordable for everyone.

But, I digress...

I'm lucky to have chosen a service career that is easily traded. In the last year, I've bartered for so many things that we wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise:

• Photography - family portraits, Christmas cards, birth announcements, maternity portraits, newborn portraits.
• House Cleaning every week.
• Drop-in childcare whenever we want.
• Massages every week.
• Bikes tuned-up and a brand new bike trailer for the kids.

I'm in the process of looking for someone to do some work on the car (fix our air conditioner) and lawn service.

These barters have been a win-win situation for everyone involved. I find that these people are pretty dedicated to their fitness programs because they really want to do them, knowing that they wouldn't have the chance otherwise. I'm excited for the same reason; I wouldn't be able to have these services done either. Not only has bartering been mutually beneficial, but relationships/friendships have grown from them. Our house cleaner has been cleaning for us since before Carter was born. She's been here every week and Logan loves it when she's over.

We were just smacked upside one way and down the other with some heavy medical bills that need to be paid now. It would be an awesome world if I could barter for those. However, I'm feeling a hell of a lot less stressed about this pinch than most people might because for one, we are experts at being poor and living on practically nothing, but I can also be creative here and think outside the box with ways to come up with the money we need.

I've got some brainstorming to do. But, I know this little bump in the road is just that. Little.