Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)

Look into a USB transfer cable, they work well for saving data from a dying computer!

They do not cost much coin!

Installed programs not so much, they need to be reinstalled!

Sorry to not have written lately, got behind what with all the deals and, oh what the hell, I’ve been busy doing a lot of nothin’ relaxing under the old oak tree sippin’ my coffee with honey and walnut ice cream and munchin’ on homemade oatmeal cookies while reminiscin’ about what my life could have been.

I could have been out there slavin’ for some half brain dead boss who didn’t get any action from his old lady last night (and every other night) and takin’ it out on me. Besides, bein’ on commission is a great way to get around the ‘ol minimum wage laws.

You see, I’m retired and on social insecurity. But my planning for the twilight of my years (or months, who really knows ?) has saved my cookies (see oatmeal above) which has been that I am living within my means. I must admit that luck played a part in my situation; a big part. Often luck is taking advantage of possibilities we are exposed to.

I was fortunate many years ago to have stepped back and taken a good look at the merry go round we are on and realized that the operator of this machine was actually a maniacal, sadistic bastard who took delight in seeing everyone spinning in circles while he increased the speed. Many were thrown off into the dirt while those who managed to hang on ended up with all kinds of head trauma from the ever increasing spinning, a form of PTSD not widely diagnosed except recognized as work stress. These folks who hang on for dear life we call successes; what a sick joke.

Bear with me; I do have a point to make (somewhere, I think). We spend out lives in pursuit of the brass ring, that elusive prize that we have been programmed to seek. Ever reaching out as we spin through our lives, reaching out, risking what is really important. And what is really important, you ask ? Well, in my feelings it is time. Time to sit back and do nothing if I so choose. Perhaps think of some things I may want to do or change. I can go to the beach to pick up interesting rocks or visit an old friend living far away. Freedom to have choices looms large on my mind. We are mortal and that makes each day immeasurably important. Are we happy or miserable ?

I don’t “live large” but I do live broad. I know, funny way to put it but that’s the pathways I’ve been on for decades. To be the captain of our ship (or one man dinghy) rather than to be rowing in the slave galley below to the drum beat cadence of another is a choice, not a destiny.

Bartering and horse trading is a most valuable tool, especially for the future we face. Because of our macro economic trends we are in for a world of hurt; I don’t intend to be any part of it. Through time I realized that money itself was the problem all along. The debauchment of real intrinsic money into fiat currency multiplied exponentially by the profligate sin of credit and debt has pushed the world to the precipice upon which we now find ourselves.

The seven deadly sins. Wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony. Look it up on wikipedia; lots of food for thought there.

Also listed are the seven virtues which are chastity. Temperance, charity (or, sometimes, generosity), diligence, patience, kindness and humility.

The charity or generosity virtue interests me greatly. How to be generous among so much abundance and need at the same time. The movie “Pay It Forward” affected me more than words can express; probably because it comes from the heart and expects nothing in return. I feel that now is the time for us all to pay it forward. An example was a while back when there was an old overloaded truck blocking an intersection. No one would stop and help. The owner was desperately begging anyone to give him a tow. Fortunately I was in my old 1990 Dodge truck. We hooked up and I pulled him up the road to a safe spot. A policeman drove by and asked if everything was alright. The man offered to bring over some homemade muffins. I had some fruit and veggies in the back of my truck and we sat there eating some oranges and conversing. I told him that instead of the muffins that he help another when the opportunity presented itself and to tell the person he helped to also pay it forward. This was a kindness that will be passed through from one to another in an endless chain of charity. After having shared with this man I could see that he was uplifted; his whole demeanor changed for the better. I can only believe that he remembered and helped the next person in need. Maybe I gave him hope that the world wasn’t such a bad place after all IF we helped one another.

I learned that all we have to do is open our hearts and let the love flow both in and out. I see random acts of kindness from time to time and imagine what the world would be like if we were to exercise these seven virtues on a daily basis rather than the seven deadly sins.

We don’t really need money like we think we do; we really primarily need each other in a spirit of sharing and caring. Money is only needed when there is no alternative. Work can be traded. Food can be traded. Rent can be traded. Transportation can be traded. We used to do this before there was money. And now civilization isn’t civil, humanity isn’t humane. Is this progress ? The quality of life has been eclipsed by the quantity of life.

I have been writing this bartering and horse trading thread for several years and through that time I have traded many things. They are all personal and therefore have brought me closer to others. My old boss in the early 70s was a psychologist and told me something I never forgot; listen to the feelings behind what someone says and you will get to the heart of that person.

I’ll tell you a little secret. All of the thousands of items I have collected through the years are here for trading and helping others in the spirit of Pay It Forward. It has been said that generosity is its own reward. That is so true but in addition I have seen it change a heart for the better. Priceless. And the benefits to me come in many unexpected ways.

Well, enough for now. I have a couple of weeks of buying items that I haven’t posted and hope to do that when I get back from my trip; I’m leaving tomorrow at 3:00 AM. I’m visiting an old friend I haven’t seen for years. I don’t know when I will return; maybe that’s the beauty of it.

Best wishes,

Agnut

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Great post Agnut!

Haven't been on in a while do to trying to have a little less doom in my life. The world mankind has made for himself is plenty screwed up and I know it and constantly reading and researching it will bring me down sometimes.

Been busy as heck with deals and doing well. I do a lot of the "Paying It Forward", sometimes to a fault, having time and energy tied up in an item even if not much cash and passing it on to friends who never really realize sometimes what it takes to bring something about deal wise. I'm not as good at typing out long posts so I might just once a week or so report deals and prices paid, although I hate to sound like I'm bragging. They are out there though if you know where and how to look. After a while you will build up connections and people will call you or bring stuff by your place. I am blessed to have a great wife, a few close friends and a wide variety of acquantances that help me get a lot done.

Deals from the last couple of weeks
Vermont castings Wood stove--FREE, retails new for over $2000, sold it for 150 to get it out of my way quick
Window AC--$3, Sold for $40
Dehumidifyer-$2, gave to a friend
Pickup load of stainless kitchen sinks with faucets--Free Keeping a couple nice ones, might sell some on CL, scrap the rest
Miter chop saw and table saw--$75 for both, light homeowner use
mid 80's boat motor and trailer--FREE, got the engine to run, shoveled out the hull and bleached it, swapped trailers to a junky one and sold it for $450, kept the nice galvanized trailer
Couple of decent boat anchors from the dump--Free. My dump guy sends me any marine/boat deals and I give him any old ac compressors I get from my apt connection.
Craftsman upright tool chest--$20, probably$400-$500 new, already have it filled up because my other ones were overflowing

Going out tomorrow to see what comes up, working on putting sides on my heavy duty trailer for filling it up and hauling scrap to the scrap yard instead of just taking it to the dump. Always working on streamlining and "processing" my finds to keep the place from looking like Sandford and Son. Need to be more patient and get more for some of my items, just hate having to "sell" and deal with tire kicking buyers. A lot of the items I price low to move them quick and cut down on all the BS, basically the item and the low price take away any negotiatiion. I'm really just too busy though it seems sometimes to sit on items very long with other things in the pipeline coming my way that will need to take up space too.


Hope everyone is doing well, post up some deals when you get them!

Hi all; back from the trip. Eleven days and 550 miles each way. I drove nonstop except for fuel and one rest stop. I now realize that I’m getting too old to test the limits of what endurance I still have. However, I had a great time with an old friend and learned a lot.

As promised, I will now list the last two sales I attended for price references.

24 DVDs $24
50 light bulbs new, Mercury, LED flood, other types $5
5 hats $2
Vise grips, needle nose, 2 pair Fiskars garden shears, 50 cents each
18 scissors European, 5 nail polish sets $5
4 umbrellas, 2 were new, one had $20 price tag. 50 cents each
4 tape measures $1 total
10 9 volt, 22 D cell new Duracell batteries $2 total
2 rolls plastic sheeting 4 mil. 10x25 for $1 each
10 pounds wild bird seed free
Framed print $2
2 cookbooks 25 cents each
10 crystal salt and pepper shakers $1 total
Digital timer, oven thermometer 50 cents each
Laptop power cord, inverter 25 cents
2 strainers 25 cents each
Wagner cast iron 2 quart bean pot, like new $2

I got there late and still made out like a bandit. If we hyperinflate like 1922-3 Germany, these items will be valuable trading material. I once read that they were trading brass doorknobs for goods. Lots of good old American and other high quality items still around but I think that they will diminish in the future and be replaced with used Chinese quality items. In fact, in the last few years, I’ve been seeing more and more used poor quality items being offered for sale. So get while the getting’ is good.

The next sale :

25’ tape measure $1
Hammer fiberglass handle $1
2 Orgreenic fry pans 50 cents each
50’ garden hose $1
Weber charcoal briquette preheater $1
Miter saw $1
12 T posts $10 total
2 huge tarps $5 total
30 large candles, most new (about 25 pounds) $5 total
Jacuzzi foam for cover. free
10 U.S. made hose clamps, electrical fittings, etc. for $2 total
BBQ cover $2
Kabela Hamburger press new $1 ($25 plus tax in the store)

I had been looking for a hamburger press for months and happened to ask a seller lady if she had one for sale. She said no and thought about it for a minute. I could see a light go off and she also brightened up and said that she had a new one that she had never used; it was in the house. She went in and got it and the rest is history; now part of my history !

Gotta go; tractors, mowers, weed whacker all need work before I can put them to work.

Best wishes,

Agnut

P.S. The old friend I was visiting was Ponce in his kingdom. What a trip in several ways !

Almost new set of 17 inch tires for the wife's car, with wheels that I will sell to recover some cost--$225
Screw gun bit set complete $3
Borg Warner Velvet drive marine transmission--Free
3 life jackets-$2
Fiberglass shop sink with hose sprayer and faucet--Free

Put sides on the big scrap trailer and have it about halfway filled already.

Interested in hearing about the time at Ponces, sounds like quite a guy and place.

Hi all; I don’t know about you but life has been a whirlwind since the weather broke. Tractors, mowers, weed whackers, cars, computers, organizing and more have been demanding my attention like a pack of whining pups. Oh, and for the last few months I’ve been going to the dentist to have all my upper teeth pulled for an upper denture. Now having a tooth filled is a minor thing. Got the new dentures in 12 days ago and am still adjusting; doc says a couple more weeks and I should be ready to bite most anything.
I hadn’t been GEM hunting until the last couple of weekends. Here is a list of the booty from 6/12, 13 :
Black and Decker bench grinder $2
58 DVDs $10
Gibson Maestro guitar and amp $30
2 large table umbrellas free
Stihl weed whacker $2.50
New London Fog jacket $8
12 hats 25 cents each
3 pullover shirts 50 cents each
3 pair sweat pants 50 cents each
Large box of rope $5
Homedics neck massager $2
Airwalk hiking boots 50 cents
Small haul but still fun.

And here is the list from 6/19, 20 :
Compostumbler 18 bushel size for $50 (costs $600 new, $500 on sale)
12 quart enamel pot with lid $1
2 rolls heavy duty water hoses $5 each
New leather gloves $1
Oster blender $2
12 quart steamer pot $5
King comforter with pillow cases $5 Lady said it was $100 new.
Sears Eager 1 lawn mower free
Women’s leather boots $2
Women’s Ugg type boots $2
20 DVDs $10
Small water pump $2
3 shirts o25 cents each
Sidewalk gas edger $5
Coleman two way burner in box $5 ($50 new in store)
Coleman propane burner $1
Heavy duty router $20
And lots of little items for 5 to 10 percent of new price.
Lately I’ve noticed that even when I arrived before the sale opening times, buyers were walking out with armloads of items. Hey ! That’s cheating; Should I call the cops ?
Not all deals come about at GEM sales either. Yesterday I called a lady near me just to say hi and see how she was doing. She had just sold her house and was planning to move to somewhere in Oregon. She asked if I was interested in her semi antique Troy 6 HP tiller. Looked like something my grandfather would have used on the ranch. I said Sure, how much do you want for it ? To my surprise she said that I could have it for free ! My son and I hooked up the trailer and ran over and picked it up. This tiller was made before they learned to make everything out of beer cans and plastic. Built like a Missouri mule. It’ll probably outlive me.
She also has a spinet piano she offered for free but we just don’t have room for it. Sometimes too much isn’t such a good thing.
My daughters are coming from Florida in mid August. Gotta get the place looking presentable enough that they won’t photo it and put it up on some hoarder website. I’ve got stuff that I haven’t seen for 8 or 10 years. Somewhere……
Best wishes,
Agnut
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanks for the update Agnut. I went into hibernation mode for a long time. Got back out in the last 2 weeks. Here are some of the deals I got.

2 WW2 M2 ammo cans- good condition $2 ea. These are about 12in x 12 in x 10 in.
2 water barrels- about 60 gallon size HDPE with 2 bung seals at top $5 ea
box of assorted tools - wood chisels/cutters caught my attention $5
black leather coat excellent condition $10

You just can't beat the deals of getting something used and in good condition for pennies on the dollar.

Hi all. Last Friday and Saturday I went garage sailing and picked up the typical load of small items such as a bag of light bulbs for free, shovels and brooms for a dollar. I won’t bore you with the details, it was a déjà vu all over again.

One purchase of note was that I saw a 4X4 platform in the rafters in a garage. I asked him if it was for sale and he enthusiastically said yes. How much ? $10. There was a lot of rope, tiedown cleats and four block and tackles. I bought it for my barn; maybe to use the block and tackles to hoist bicycles overhead They are in the way right now what with all the other items I have stacked around.

After having taken this platform down, there was a huge folded tarp in the rafters exposed which I asked about. He said that he didn’t know the condition and said that I could have it for one dollar. See how one thing leads to another ?

A few weeks ago a neighbor who was moving asked me if I was still interested in her 1970s Troy Built garden tiller. I said yes and asked how much she wanted for it. She said that I could have it for free for all the help I had been in the past. I already have a new Troy Built tiller but it is nothing like the beast these older ones are. They typically cost about $4-500 if you can find one. So I ran right over with my tilt trailer and picked it up.

A couple of weeks passed until last weekend when on Saturday at the last garage sale I spied another old Troy Built tiller sitting in the side yard. Turns out that I know these people, great folks. I asked the husband (is it still legal to use that term ? ) if it was for sale and he said that it was. I bought some items and left for home, not thinking more about the tiller.

That night I began thinking about the possible opportunity another tiller might offer. I couldn’t put it out of my mind, It was like something was urging me to get back over there and work a deal if It was still available.

Sunday morning I got up early and hooked up the trailer; thinking positive, I was going to get that tiller come Hell or high water. I parked around the corner, not knowing if I could turn around on the dead end street. I hiked up the steep driveway and saw that the tiller and all of the items for sale were still there.

There were no other buyers and I had the field to myself !

This tiller, unlike the one I already had, was an electric start version and came with an attachment I had not known existed, a power takeoff wood chipper. I got them both with a plow attachment for $350. Now I have the three tillers plus the Kronevator which is pulled behind my Kubota diesel tractor. Why so many tillers, you ask ? Well, besides our own needs for our field I figure I could loan them out and/or charge to till others’ fields and gardens in the future.

This man and his wife (is that term still legal too ?) do a lot of canning and he asked me if we saw any deer in our area. I said that we had a couple who were jumping the fence and eating in our orchard. He said that bow season starts Sept 1 and I said to come on over. He has a passion for deer jerky. I also just made a bottle of colloidal silver that his wife requested. It ain’t all about the dollars; it’s all about each other.

Recently I read that growing food will be the new gold. And having the equipment to do the hardest job will be in demand. I was told that tilling in the spring was expected in order to plant but was also told that tilling before winter was also a good idea, something I did not know. I still need to find out more about this. If so, twice the demand. The heavy duty Kronevator would be good for tearing up the blackberry bushes’ roots which are all over our area. I anticipate that folks may want to clear areas on their properties for planting veggies. I recall that in the last depression folks had gardens in their back yards. My three Troy Built tillers would be ideal for getting in and out of and handling such smaller areas. By the way, I expect that canning will also see a resurgence like in the last depression.

So much of our prep planning is founded upon a particular intensity of social and economic difficulties. At the low end is the tightening of available money and resources and the resultant necessary adjustments required; at the high end is the chaotic collapse and later stabilization of a much different world. In either scenario, people have to eat. The small farmer will be king. My acquiring equipment will hopefully add a demand for our services. Canning equipment shows up at garage and estate sales; not a bad idea to have a setup and knowledge of how to use it for the future. And some of you are probably thinking of stills too. Not a bad idea for the adventuresome.

Another thing I am looking for is a vertical mill and lathe in order to repair and make metal items. I have done this when I had such equipment a couple of decades ago. With a lathe and mill, the welders we already have we can repair most anything.

The overview of the aforementioned is that I have added a new skill and possible demand for bartering and horsetrading in the future. I feel better now and am now more aware of what other equipment I may need in order to be in demand.

Gee, do you think that when money collapses we might be using bartering and horsetrading instead ?

Best wishes,

Agnut

"On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron."
-H.L. Mencken

Oppressing everyone to avoid oppressing anyone is the egalitarian ethos gone mad
.- Daniel Greenfield

You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. -C.S. Lewis

Hi again, crazy busy as usual. I stupidly thought retired life was supposed to be slow and borderline boring. Ain’t happened yet and won’t happen in the future either. I don’t know whether I’m braggin’ or complainin”. Anyhow, here is a list of the booty from last weekend :

FIRST SALE
20 DVDs $20
Belkin reading LED light $1
2 leather purses $1 each (no, no; for my daughters (that is, if my judgment is not too whacko)).
5 new straw cowboy hats $1 total (they were used for a rodeo night party)
3 LED 50 light sets, new in box. Price tag was $15.99 (plus sales tax, of course. Not edible, ya know) $1 each set
2 cookie trays free
1 rollong suitcase $2
SECOND SALE
Bluray player $10
Star Trek Bluray DVD $3
THIRD SALE
Wood kitchen stool
Vibram sole military boots $3
Oster blender $3
2 hammers 25 cents each
Black and Decker reversible ½” drill $5
2 Natural Cures Revealed books 50 cents each
Fossil designer leather purse $15 (again for my daughters. Really, ya gotta believe me !)
Heavy salt crystal lamp $3
FOURTH SALE
16 Harley Davidson T shirts $30
5 Harley Davidson dress shirts $75
1 pair leather Harley Davidson gloves $5
8 DVDs $8
Levi lined denim jacket, like new $10
2 more leather purses $1 each ( I can literally feel your skepticism now; thanks for the vote of confidence. They really, really ARE for my daughters. I have to admit that sometimes I could use a carry bag for all my loose junk. Women get a purse and we men get a fanny pack. What the Hell is that ? )
So that is all the stuff I found worthy of hauling home. The Harley shirts have been sold to a family member and the gloves were given to my niece.
Crazy as it must seem, I’m already using several of the above items (again, NOT THE PURSES ! I wish you would STOP suspecting me of being a cross dresser or worse. The closest I’ve ever been to wearing culottes was back when I wore bell bottom trousers. I will also admit to wearing a Nehru jacket one time but I was in southern Califonicate in the sixties. When in Rome, do as the Romans do; When in Calif, do as the locals do ? Come on in; the water’s fine (well, until Fukushima nuked our coastline in slow motion)). Boating is iffy, fishing is iffy; and for God’s sake if you are water skiing, don’t fall in.
A couple of days ago my son and I were making our semiannual haul to the trash dump where there is a nonprofit recycle center next door. I see it as the icing on the cake wherein we first dump the trash and then reload the truck with bargain goodies. The previous week I had asked that a composter be set aside until I could get down there to pick it up; I even called the day before to reaffirm that I would be coming soon and asked the worker to let the manager know. However, when I arrived, the composter had been sold that morning. The message was never conveyed. These composters cost $5-600 new and used ones for $50 sell like hotcakes.

I found some ½” US drill bits for 60 cents each. There was a worm drive Skil saw that had just been received and hadn’t been priced yet. I asked one of the workers there how much it would be and he said “how about $5 ?” It tested out quiet and smooth and had a fine tooth blade. This saw is about $140 at the local Home Depot store. You don’t have to guess what I did; I couldn’t get it into the truck fast enough.
Point here is to not be disappointed, frustrated or angry that things did not work out the way expected; for learning to be at peace with whatever unfolds in dealings facilitates a smooth flow through life as well. Who cares that the composter was sold through a miscommunication; another will show up or a better deal will show up like the Skil saw.
Best wishes,
Agnut

“So you think that money is the root of all evil? [...] Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can't exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the moochers, who claim your product by tears, or of the looters, who take it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is this what you consider evil?”― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Thanks for the adventure and lessons Agnut. I like shows that share these kinds of things. Once in a while I will catch the Storage Wars or Pawn Stars- pawn brokers.

I find that if I don't get to a yard sale first or close to first, I miss out on the best deals. Recently I picked up a couple old cast iron pans "Griswold" where a granddaughter was cleaning out the house - $7 for the pair. Also a pair of Sterling silver candle holders- $10. These have about $60 worth of silver. I got a heavy brown Eddie Bauer leather coat for $3. A bunch of candles- about 30 of them and a heavy paper cutter- $13. Two snow shovels- 50 cents each.

Gotta keep looking. People just want to clean out excess stuff and somebody has to be there to pick it up at cheap prices.