Idea for cheap or free produce...

[CouponFather]

I recently was at my farmers market and while talking to one of the vendors I know, some how couponing came up. They watch the show and offered to trade free vegis for items they use that I get cheap or free at the grocery store. I now trade items I get for free, for produce... Just thought I would share, might help someone out...

[motherofmolly]

this has actually been brought up before....one of the mod's also does this. and it is a great deal. what better than taking your cheap or free items to trade for other stuff that you need. a nice bartering method.

my dh was trading freebies to a friend for fresh eggs. which was super nice.

good for you on bartering for fresh produce!

[bugface711]

yes, this is an awesome thing to do!
farms that raise meat products may be willing to barter as well. Never hurts to ask.

You could really impact your savings for things that coupons are not as readily available for.

[CouponFather]

Mother of Mollie - I figured it was likely not an origional idea, as it's such a simple idea. We use the barter system for all kinds of stuff. My wife is a wedding cake designer, and we have had free gym and pool memberships for the last two years in trade for cake and cookies and such for thier annual member party. I am a network engineer, and once in my younger days traded computer work to a law firm to get me out of a speeding ticket - LOL - Best part of the barter system is no sales, or income tax!!!

Just today I went and picked up 40 free speed stick deodorants that will Saturday turn into about $15-$20 dollars worth of free produce...

[CouponFather]

Bugface711 - I have not yet tried local farmers of meat - they do not sell at the farmers market much here, but we have a ton of them around (Southwest VA) - I will contact a few and give it a shot. Trading people items they use for half thier value in product they sell at a profit is a no brainier. After all, they would have to sell a lot more of the product to go buy it on thier own...

[Jenjill]

Hey that sounds like a great idea, bartering. They is little couponing activity in RI where I come from. So I am bouncing around kind of getting to know people from all over.
Wish we had Farmers Markets here. We do but they are in the southern part of the state.

[CouponFather]

Another benefit I am noticing of over purchasing and using the items to barter with is gas - The more I take out of Kroger, the cheaper my gas is.

[CouponFather]

Hey that sounds like a great idea, bartering. They is little couponing activity in RI where I come from. So I am bouncing around kind of getting to know people from all over.
Wish we had Farmers Markets here. We do but they are in the southern part of the state.

Do you have roadside vendors of fruit and produce? It does not have to be a farmers market - just a mom and pop type operation - sure corporate America only wants cash, but anything localy owned should see the value in barter...

[thickbluebug]

I barter. I trade with my produce guy and my hair cut girl.
Have even bartered with my house cleaners too.

Endless opportunities.
What we get free is a big deal to non or beginning couponers.

Don't forget gum. People go crazy over gum. I give my haircut girl tips in airheads and gum.

[motherofmolly]

Mother of Mollie - I figured it was likely not an origional idea, as it's such a simple idea. We use the barter system for all kinds of stuff. My wife is a wedding cake designer, and we have had free gym and pool memberships for the last two years in trade for cake and cookies and such for thier annual member party. I am a network engineer, and once in my younger days traded computer work to a law firm to get me out of a speeding ticket - LOL - Best part of the barter system is no sales, or income tax!!!

Just today I went and picked up 40 free speed stick deodorants that will Saturday turn into about $15-$20 dollars worth of free produce...

i think it is a great idea that more should definately think about! bartering is the old way of doing things. dh wants to barter for more and more these days. he tells me to tell him what extras i get and he will work out things.

having a "skill" is great way to barter too. heck i traded coupons for a quilt! since i can sew. dh wants me to do the computer work for trade too.

$20 worth of produce is alot!

saving money involves thinking outside of the box sometimes. we all have some sort of skill that can be traded for something else. and couponing is a skill