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While pundits and economists worry about Wall Street’s well-being, Americans are out of work, losing their homes, and struggling to pay the bills. Our planet is warming and overwhelmed by pollution. The Capitalist marketplace promotes the exploitation of people and natural resources as cheap fixes. But saving a buck doesn’t require abandoning your values. Welcome to the People’s Marketplace.

By Martina Steiner

Do you like to shop, but don’t have enough cash for what you want? Consider bartering. Along with the financial bust came a boom in bartering. A little give and take can turn your old DVDs into an ipod, or a bookshelf into a couch. There are many websites devoted to trades, swaps, and even just free stuff.

Through U-Exchange.com and Trashbank.com all items and services can be bartered. So maybe you’ll paint a bathroom in exchange for dental work. Or save on hotel expenses and do a vacation swap, allowing someone to stay in your home for a stay in theirs. Go to SwapTree.com for bartering books, CDs, DVDs and video games. At Gardenweb.com you can barter for seeds and plants. Free stuff is also available on many sites. Go to Freecycle.org to post and find free things arranged by city and neighborhood. And there is always Craigslist.Org, the easiest site to navigate, with sections for both bartering and free stuff.

Bartering is perfect for the family budget that doesn’t allow for an allowance. Parents can post and respond to item requests with children who are too young to safely correspond with strangers. Kids will get a hands-on lesson in supply and demand, and learn how to negotiate.

Hunt around to find a site you like. They all have unique rules and systems. Some are completely free to use, and others charge transaction fees.

Another, more social, option gaining in popularity is to host a Swap at your home. It can be clothing swap, a book swap, a tool swap… whatever makes sense for your group. Pick a theme ask your friends to bring their gently used items, snacks and drinks, and you have a party where everyone leaves with a present. A group swap is also a great way to hold a fundraiser for your favorite organization. Just ask the attendees for a cash donation to participate.

Bartering not only saves you money, it keeps your money out of corporate coffers. The exchange does not end with mountains of plastic and Styrofoam packaging being stuffed into your trash can. And you won’t look at the price tag and seethe, knowing that a nickel went the workers, and the rest went to Wall Street.

Try it, and stretch your dollar to meet your values. Together we can take back the economy.