Word on the street is I like to paint. I honestly have no idea how this {misleading} information got out, but apparently it has and in the past 5 days I’ve been asked by 2 different people if I would come over and paint a few rooms in their homes. And yes, these are both able bodied people.
This should be a lesson to us all NOT to post pictures on Instagram of us painting our kitchens because no sooner than it pops up in your friends news feed, your phone won’t stop ringing.
But hey, it’s not like I have anything else to do right now, right? 😉
So when Mrs. Hillbilly asked if I would paint her daughters room, my mind started churning out questions like:
1. Why don’t you paint her room? {She didn’t want to. Plain and simple}
2. How much did you say the Painter Man was going to charge? {$500}
3. Did that include paint and supplies {Yes}
4. Does your washer and dryer work? {Yes}
5. Can I bring my {sneaky} dog? Really, she’s no trouble at all. {loooong pause}. 😉
6. Okay, I’ll do it for a $100 gift card to Starbucks. {Because getting paid cash is no fun}.
So yesterday I loaded up the back of my car with 3 loads of laundry, Lucy the puggle trouble and headed back to my old neighborhood to paint Mrs. HB’s daughters bedroom and bathroom. It took me about 6 1/2 hours and she even made me a turkey sandwich {how sweet}.
While I masked off the walls and rolled on two coats of paint {bright colors can be tricky!} Mrs. HB painted her daughters bedroom furniture black {instead of buying something new} and by the end of the day we had caught up on the latest gossip and was able to spend some productive time together.
Bartering your time for something frivolous is fun. Especially when it involves an unlimited supply of hot cocoa and tea. Well, at least until the gift card run out that is…
~Mavis
Whats this best thing you’ve bartered for lately?
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.
Peggy Stenglein says
Awesome! Good job!! Hot cocoa and tea…my favorites! I’m drinking a mug of hot cocoa right now, and a planning to buy my youngest daughter who loves hot chocolate and marshmallow fluff a huge supply for Christmas!! She’s 14 and always making it. 🙂 Have a great day!!
mildred lane says
I have done a land contract w/ my grandson who is 28 and just getting started. I bartered w/ him by paying for his blinds and plumbing for the whole house for him painting the inside of my home. I feel that both of us got a great deal. Now if I can talk his grandfather into a deal for the heat pump repair an appliances he will b ok.
Kristina says
Just yesterday, I bartered a few feed sacks full of fresh whole walnuts for a porta-potty rental for my employees. (I know, it’s hard to stand how glamorous that sounds.)
Mavis Butterfield says
I might put “barter for a porta-potty” on my bucket list {pun intended}. It would make for a great story…
tc says
I recently bartered a bunch of plastic plant pots I had saved for recycle 4″-1 gallon, for a bunch of succulents and the guy gave me to 5 gallon pots with very large succulents in, these were at least a $25 value each so I reckoned I got the best deal because there was at least $50 worth of plants that I really needed. My hubby stopped moaning about all the pots I had saved then.
Sara says
Don’t forget to register your card. You should be able to get a lot of free drinks off of $100!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks for the reminder!
Gail Nowakowsky says
Wow! You are a bundle of energy! I get tired just reading about all you do in a day. Mind you, I have a few decades on you in the age department!! Good for you. I am enjoying following the progress in your new home. Please keep posting updates.
Ramona says
This summer I had more cucumbers, eggplant and raspberries that I could use. I hate seeing food go to waste so I went to our little towns farmers market and traded for some cantalope and corn. A few times I just gave it to someone to sell at their table.
Mavis Butterfield says
Very cool!