I’ve bartered my way to a better life – I’ve traded vegetables for a better car & eggs for haircuts, now I’m debt-free
Share:
PICKING up the family car at her local garage, Katie Thomas needs to fork out for two new tyres and wheel alignment. But instead of breaking out a credit card for the £160 invoice, the 32-year-old settles part of the bill with two boxes of freshly picked fruit and vegetables she’s grown in her allotment.
![[Woman wearing glasses and a cat-themed shirt.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ive-traded-vegetables-better-car-962793435.jpg?strip=all&w=720)
Then she adds a handwritten note confirming her fiance will be there that night to paint the small office at the back of the garage workshop, and he will put up new storage shelves for staff. No money is changing hands, but former decorator Katie knows it’s her family's savings account that will benefit the most from this unusual transaction.
![[Free-range eggs in a cardboard carton.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/4e38bac0-89b8-468e-9b99-c2cdfa4b45f7.jpg?strip=all&w=594)
“I use barter banking to keep my family debt-free. We swap skills for bills,” she says. “It has helped us save more than £6000 by swapping skills and growing our own food. The money has paid off £1500 in loans in the last three years ” Katie tells Fabulous.
![[Assortment of items for sale at a yard sale, including glassware, books, toys, and clothing.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ive-traded-vegetables-better-car-962793568.jpg?strip=all&w=667)
“I have swapped or ‘barter banked’ veggies for repairs, swapped DIY skills for new kitchen appliances, offered up toys for carpets and eggs for haircuts.”. And when she does have to legal tender, Katie says that she ditches the plastic there too.
![[Handful of blackberries next to Tesco blackberry product listing.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/e16f166a-cc46-4ebc-b892-cf0a1aaf9f31.jpg?strip=all&w=560)
“I am a dedicated ‘cash reverter’,” she says. “I ditched credit and debit cards for banknotes and coins. I use real money instead of plastic cards. “It means I know exactly how much we must spend each week. It is life changing. “If it’s not in coins and cash in my wallet I don't buy it.
![[Woman holding a paintbrush.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/d8df86ed-9639-49ce-a1ab-82b94e9c924b.jpg?strip=all&w=731)
