Money Saving Mom®

Guest post from Meagan of More Than a Coupon Queen

Our family has lived on a tight budget for a long time. My husband works for a non-profit ministry and I homeschool both of our children.

I have always wanted my children to enjoy the things we couldn’t afford without breaking our budget. This is where the idea of bartering came into play. I may not be able to pay cash for something but I have a few skills I can trade.

If you’re interested in bartering, here are 5 things to consider…

5 Things to Remember When Bartering

1. Don’t be afraid to ask.

I have bartered with people I never would have expected to. Sometimes a Facebook question such as, “Looking for someone to help us with a stopped up toilet. Willing to do a photo shoot for you in exchange for your time” can end with a great partnership.

2. Make sure the value matches.

I have seen people trade services worth a lot for something small. Make sure your trade is even. Examples of this would include trading 1 hour of babysitting for a full photo shoot or trading 1 hour of yard work for 3 hours of house work.

The only way bartering will make you happy is by making sure that both people are getting the same value.

3. Put terms in writing before you start.

In order to avoid disagreements later, establish the terms of your trade before you start. You don’t need a lawyer and a contract but having something in writing will prevent either of you from feeling taken advantage of.

4. Put a timeline on your trade.

Don’t give someone something with the understanding that they will someday pay you back. Instead, say “I will do this for you by this date if you will do this for me by this date.”

Not only will this give both of you a clear deadline, it will remove a potential disagreement over when something should be done.

5. Realize your Strengths.

I went to school for photography, I work well with children, and I know how to do some basic business cards and branding. When someone is looking to trade with me I will offer these things as options.

What are you good at? Are you good with children? Do you know how to work with Photoshop or an excel spreadsheet? Are you good at cleaning? Knowing your strengths gives you something to barter.

Bartering is a great way to take care of your family without spending cash you don’t have. I highly recommend giving it a try!

Have you ever bartered for something you needed? Did it go well for you?

Meagan is a Sci-loving homeschool mom from Central Florida. She blogs with her husband at More Than a Coupon Queen. If you visit their site you are sure to find money saving tips, homeschool ideas, and Central Florida fun. Meagan hosts a weekly Science link up and offers a monthly Doctor Who inspired printable.

photo source

Guest post from Jennifer

After being a stay-at-home mom for almost 2 years, my husband and I had to make a decision of where our first child would go to school. Although we were excited about sending her to a private school, we were also a bit overwhelmed wondering if could afford it on one income.

I know there are many families out there living on one income and “affording more” of what’s important to you because of budget cut-backs in other areas of your life. And after looking at our own budget, we found several areas we could cut back to make a private school tuition work on one income:

1. Debt: 

We had already purposefully eliminated all credit card and car loan debt, so we only owe money on a reasonable mortgage.

2. Entertainment:

• We use a TV with bunny ears, so we do not pay for cable, Netflix, etc.
• We check out movies and books at the local library for free!
• We do cheap dates (sometimes sharing an entrée at a restaurant to be able to eat out).
• We are blessed to have grandparents in town who babysit for free.
• We limit our eat-out budget, and drink water when we go out.
• We only have one smart phone in our family.
• We called our phone company to get a promotional rate on internet.

3. Clothing:

• I shop for my kids’ clothes at garage, consignment, and thrift store sales. I also buy ahead for the next size up at the clearance racks at the end of a season.
• I consign my kids’ clothes (and old toys) at a local sale three times a year. I price the clothes and make 70% of what they sell for and they do the work of selling them.

4. Groceries:

• I shop primarily at Aldi, with some items bought at Dillon’s with sales and coupons.
• I have started making more things from scratch, and I love using my bread machine (inspired by this blog!). My kids love “Mama Jenny’s Pizzeria”.

5. Gifts

• I make many gifts (birthday cakes, burlap wreaths, bracelets, baby blankets).
• I shop for gifts year round.
• I recycle all old gift bags and tissue paper that are in good condition.

6. Gas

• We buy gift cards at Dillon’s for specific purchases and get fuel points to get discounts on gas.
• We fill up both cars at once to take full advantage of fuel discounts.

7. School Credit for Reloadable Gift Card:

Our school offers credit towards tuition for purchases bought with a reloadable Dillon’s gift card, including money spent on gas. We make about $3.75 for each $100 spent and every little bit adds up!

8. Hair:

I highlight my own hair and cut all four of our hair.

9. Home repairs:

I am blessed to have a handy husband who can do most home repairs and lawn maintenance with only a few trips to Home Depot.

I realize that all of these tips will not work for everyone, but I hope this is inspiring to many readers who read MoneySavingMom.com for more ideas to cut back to afford more!

Jennifer is a stay-at-home mom of two children, 6 and 3, whose mom, out of necessity, taught her to be frugal growing up. She enjoys looking for more ways to save money, crafting, reading, teaching children at church, and spending time with her family.

photo source