5 Simple Ways to Save Money in a Recession

1. Bring back the Barter system
Use your skills & time as currency: I have a friend who owns a hair salon, and trades haircuts for all sorts of things - her website, artwork for her salon, even legal work. I trade my tech services for everything from free drinks at the local pub to free petcare at the vet.

Estimated value of bartered services/month: $200+

2. Grow your own food
It's 3.99 for one red bell pepper in the grocery store... it's free in your back yard garden. Enough said.

Estimated savings/month: $30

3. Buy day old baked goods from your local bakery
My bakery sells their day old items for $1. Even a day old, their bread is fresher and better than the stuff they sell in the grocery, plus about $4 cheaper for a loaf.

Estimated savings/month: $20

4. Cancel Your Cable TV
Most shows on network tv are available online for free, and if not, you can always have viewing parties at a friend's house or the local bar.

Estimated monthly savings: $125 - $175

5. Cowpooling
If you're a meat eater, buying a share of a whole cow from a local farmer is less expensive than buying individual cuts of meat from the grocery. Typically, You'll get a variety of cuts, with the average price per pound around $3. Plus you get the benefit of knowing where your meat is coming from, and what practices are used.

Estimated savings per 50 lb. of meat: $150

Oh, and added bonus? If you do these things, you'll be opting out of systems that are dysfunctional - like the mainstream food system - and supporting new and/or local systems that are better for all of us.

Here's how bartering is taxed (thanks to Doug Ghizzoni on Facebook for looking it up):
“If you conduct any direct barter – barter for another’s products or services – you will have to report the fair market value of the products or services you received on your tax return.”

So, what are YOUR tips for saving money?