Trade is more

Have you ever wished to get something without spending money? Yes, it sounds a little crazy, but it is possible. This is what trades are based on. Get something just by exchanging items without “touch” money. Some people still use this type of economy as a usual way of life, but others have started using it, as a challenge since we live in a heavily capitalist world.

In 2005, Kyle MacDonald made something that looked impossible and crazy. He traded a paper clip for a house that trade, in the beginning, was just for fun to see how far he could get. The only goal was to have, and in the end get a high-value item. The first trade he made was a paper clip for a fish pen, then a doorknob, and one and one. Not all trades were fast or easy to make. Still, that one was quite famous. When he traded an afternoon with Alice Cooper (the lead singer of KISS) for a snow globe, many people said that trade was the worst trade ever made, but that trade gave him a movie role that ended up in a house. We can say that he inspires many people to try to attempt this achievement or very similar ones, like Yes Theory that in 3 days, got a ticket to Kilimanjaro, in the streets of London, just for asking strangers. This video showed everyone that this challenge is not as easy as it looks. You have a lot of struggles to trade one item, and at the uprising value of things become harder and harder to keep going.

In ongoing days where the inflation is growing without a stop on the horizon, with a lot of people spending money just because they like or do not know what to do with a lot of money, I think that it will be great if we could implement again trade option to “buy” an item or a service, if we are starting to accept digital coins for that, why not trade option as well? That will be great for a circular economy and give a new life to something we don´t need and want anymore.

Sources:

Youtube - Yes Theory

YouTube - What if you could trade a paperclip for a house? | Kyle MacDonald | TEDxVienna