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Tip Store: Finances: Bartering/Trade
Street Bounty Savings
Most areas have a local Street Bounty Facebook page. The aim of these groups is to reduce the amount of junk that goes into landfill. Over the last year I have posted requests for a fridge, a flat screen TV, and a portable CD player. Members have offered these item without cost within minutes. We are all trying to help each other find what we need rather than have people buy new products and creating more waste. I would estimate the savings in the last year to be hundreds of dollars to me and even more for the planet.
Contributed by Tara Anderson
Contributed by Tara Anderson
The New LETSystem o-1
There's a new LETSystem o-l, world wide and certainly in Australia. There are many CES exchanges. Some charge an annual subscription fee in the national currency, others have no charges in conventional money, or any joining or membership fees in the exchange's own currency. Where there are no subscription fees, administration costs are covered by a small transaction levy (in the CES currency) that is added to all transactions, but such levies only become effective when you begin trading. Administrations require an income for running and promoting their CES exchange groups. Just go to: www.ces.org.za
Contributed by Julie Buxton, 23rd October 2011
Website: www.ces.org.za
Contributed by Julie Buxton, 23rd October 2011
Website: www.ces.org.za
Buy, Swap or Giveaway via Facebook
Cairns has several groups on Facebook dedicated to 'buy, sell, swap or giveaway'. The bargains on there are unreal. I picked up a solid computer desk with storage for free! I just had to pick it up. I've bought baby clothes with the tags still on for a few dollars. There are two groups just for baby/kids stuff, check to see if your local area has one. Or start your own and invite all your friends. The more people who join the more bargains to be had.
Contributed by Tiffany Weber, 19th July 2010
Contributed by Tiffany Weber, 19th July 2010
Join a Trading Club
I am a local co-ordinator of Sydney/ Illawarra LETS which is a trading group. We have our own currency (called "operas ") and trade with each other on a credit and debit arrangement, all recorded on the central computer. It is a good way to get credit from your skills/ hobbies /interests and obtain second-hand goods etc from fellow members (about 800). New members usually list three things they are prepared to offer fellow members (cake making, hair cutting ,car washing to give three examples). The annual fee is only $5 cash and 10 operas (also the joining fee ). You can spend before earning and we have three monthly trading days (with a cuppa and a chat ). Check it out at www.auslets.org/sydney/ There are branches Australia wide and overseas .
Contributed by Jim Guerin,16th July 2010
Website: www.auslets.org/sydney
Contributed by Jim Guerin,16th July 2010
Website: www.auslets.org/sydney
Pool Your Resources
I have teamed up with some friends to pool our resources and save. I grow oranges, passionfruit and some vegies and share the crops with everyone in the group. A friend who keeps chooks supplies the eggs. Another friend works as a market researcher and includes us in her jobs involving free samples. We all take cuttings from the others' gardens and share expensive appliances e.g. garden mulcher. This ensures we all stay in touch often and saves us loads of money.
Contributed by Tracey, Northfield, 4th February 2009
Contributed by Tracey, Northfield, 4th February 2009
Aussie Freebies Make Living on a Budget Easier
With a new baby in the house and the usual bills and outgoings I am always looking for ways to make a dollar go further. What better way than getting things for free! I registered with my local Freecycling group and receive lists of things people are giving away for FREE! Once the list comes out (regularly via email) I contact the person giving the item away and arrange to pick it up. I've collected an outdoor gym (retail $600), a rice cooker (retail $39) and most recently a coffee machine (retail $350!!) but there really is a huge range of things on each list. It's great for the environment and the wallet - plus you can get rid of your own unwanted things as well.
Contributed by Lisa, Mt. Lawley, 18th November2008
Website: www.australianfreebies.com/freecycle-australia.htm
Contributed by Lisa, Mt. Lawley, 18th November2008
Website: www.australianfreebies.com/freecycle-australia.htm
Swap Services and Save
Approximate $ Savings: $60 per month
Local Brisbaneites can swap their way to savings success with this great site, www.serviceswap.citymaker.com It is a completely free site where you can organise to swap a service with someone else in your local area. For example If you are a beauty therapist a Brazilian wax would take one hour at most and is charged out at say $60, however the take home rate for Beauty Therapists is more like $20 per hour. So if you were to swap a Brazilian wax for a Haircut (at least $60 for a good stylist) it would take an hour of your time to do your half of the swap but it would have taken you three hours to earn the money to pay for that service. Huge savings potential and it is not just limited to trades, why not offer to do someone's ironing in exchange for a service you need??
Contributed by Liz, New Farm
Local Brisbaneites can swap their way to savings success with this great site, www.serviceswap.citymaker.com It is a completely free site where you can organise to swap a service with someone else in your local area. For example If you are a beauty therapist a Brazilian wax would take one hour at most and is charged out at say $60, however the take home rate for Beauty Therapists is more like $20 per hour. So if you were to swap a Brazilian wax for a Haircut (at least $60 for a good stylist) it would take an hour of your time to do your half of the swap but it would have taken you three hours to earn the money to pay for that service. Huge savings potential and it is not just limited to trades, why not offer to do someone's ironing in exchange for a service you need??
Contributed by Liz, New Farm
LETS
Approximate $ Savings: $40,000++++++
I belong to a fantastic group called LETS which stands for Local Exchange Trading System. LETS is a community based non-profit trading system that enables its members to exchange a wide variety of goods and services using little or no cash. Our group has traded the equivalent of over $40,000 since April alone! Not bad for a group of local residents really. We have traded goods and services such as cleaning, building, business services, admin, babysitting, meals, clothes, gardening... the list just goes on and on. And the very best thing about LETS is all the fantastic new friends I have made. As an example I am currently organising my daughter's fifth birthday party. I have hired some local gardens for the venue through LETS (no money involved in hiring), have a professional fairy/magician coming along, again through LETS, the cake and food is being made by a LETS member and my 90 year old grandmother is coming to the party in a limo courtesy of another LETS member's business. Not one cent for all of it. I just need to put my time and energy back into the group when I can. I LOVE LETS! There are LETS groups throughout Australia and the world. Check out www.lets.org.au for a group near you.
Contributed by Korina, Woy Woy, 9th October 2007
I belong to a fantastic group called LETS which stands for Local Exchange Trading System. LETS is a community based non-profit trading system that enables its members to exchange a wide variety of goods and services using little or no cash. Our group has traded the equivalent of over $40,000 since April alone! Not bad for a group of local residents really. We have traded goods and services such as cleaning, building, business services, admin, babysitting, meals, clothes, gardening... the list just goes on and on. And the very best thing about LETS is all the fantastic new friends I have made. As an example I am currently organising my daughter's fifth birthday party. I have hired some local gardens for the venue through LETS (no money involved in hiring), have a professional fairy/magician coming along, again through LETS, the cake and food is being made by a LETS member and my 90 year old grandmother is coming to the party in a limo courtesy of another LETS member's business. Not one cent for all of it. I just need to put my time and energy back into the group when I can. I LOVE LETS! There are LETS groups throughout Australia and the world. Check out www.lets.org.au for a group near you.
Contributed by Korina, Woy Woy, 9th October 2007
Freecycle Any Area
Approximate $ Savings: Unlimited savings
I am on a pension and often cannot afford replacement furniture, so I went to the website www.freecycle.com.au and joined up to my area. I know have access to a large range of items that are being GIVEN AWAY by people who no longer need them. It is a great way to get items that you need free and help out another 'freecycler' by taking something that they no longer want. And it helps to reduce landfill too!
Contributed by Anne, Scoresby, 19th June 2007
I am on a pension and often cannot afford replacement furniture, so I went to the website www.freecycle.com.au and joined up to my area. I know have access to a large range of items that are being GIVEN AWAY by people who no longer need them. It is a great way to get items that you need free and help out another 'freecycler' by taking something that they no longer want. And it helps to reduce landfill too!
Contributed by Anne, Scoresby, 19th June 2007
Saving Many Dollars with Freecycle
I have found a wonderful website called Freecycle. I belong to the Freecycle in my area although they are across Australia and International also. Just type in the name of your town and Freecycle and see if there is one in your area. If not, then perhaps you could create one. It is free to join and everything being given away is free. I have saved time, a lot of money, it is good for the environment and I have made many beautiful friends. I trust this tip will be of tremendous benefit to everyone.
Contributed by Jenny, Bundaberg, 29th June 2007
Contributed by Jenny, Bundaberg, 29th June 2007
Bartering Goods for Services
Approximate saving: $25/fortnight
I found the best way to save money was to join the Local Exchange/Energy Trading System or LETS as it's known. I save in excess of $25 each fortnight when I have a full body massage. I "sell" my excess eggs to fellow members who don't have chooks in the backyard. I used to get a "free" haircut before the elderly hairdresser had to stop. LETSystems are all over Australia - go to www.lets.org.au to find your nearest one. Re: ~free~ the LETSystem I'm in charges $10.00 per year for postage etc. LETS started in Canada and came to Australia via Bill Mollison [permaculture] more than a decade ago.
Contributed by Julie, East Victoria Park, December 12th 2007
I found the best way to save money was to join the Local Exchange/Energy Trading System or LETS as it's known. I save in excess of $25 each fortnight when I have a full body massage. I "sell" my excess eggs to fellow members who don't have chooks in the backyard. I used to get a "free" haircut before the elderly hairdresser had to stop. LETSystems are all over Australia - go to www.lets.org.au to find your nearest one. Re: ~free~ the LETSystem I'm in charges $10.00 per year for postage etc. LETS started in Canada and came to Australia via Bill Mollison [permaculture] more than a decade ago.
Contributed by Julie, East Victoria Park, December 12th 2007
Trade a Skill
Approximate $ Savings: $5 up
If you have a skill why not offer it to a friend or colleague that has a skill you need? My colleagues at work do just this: one was a hairdresser and the other a costume designer. The hairdresser cuts the costume designer's hair in return for any sewing that needs to be done. This includes making an outfit from scratch. Huge savings all round!
Contributed by Christelle Buckschun, 19th January 2013
If you have a skill why not offer it to a friend or colleague that has a skill you need? My colleagues at work do just this: one was a hairdresser and the other a costume designer. The hairdresser cuts the costume designer's hair in return for any sewing that needs to be done. This includes making an outfit from scratch. Huge savings all round!
Contributed by Christelle Buckschun, 19th January 2013