The idea of the Barter Better Mobile app was one born from a few words that no one likes.

Need, Restriction, Can’t

I would find myself in situations time and time again where I was unable to accomplish goals I had, due to monetary RESTRICTION. If it was a project that I NEEDED done and COULDN’T afford to hire someone, it would have to wait. If there was something I really wanted, I often found myself saying I CAN’T afford that right now. I was constantly held back by the ole mighty dollar.

One day I found myself talking with a neighbor who mentioned they had family coming into town and he needed to pressure wash they’re house before family arrived, but he didn’t have a pressure washer, and COULDN’T get it done. Since I owned one, I offered to let him use mine. Being the kind neighbor that he was, he asked me if there was anything he could do for me. I jokingly replied, do you mind if I borrow your kayak for the weekend? He replied, absolutely! Take it!. I had plans to go with friends to a lake house that weekend and they were bringing kayaks, and I NEEDED to rent one. So he borrowed my pressure washer, I borrowed his kayak, and we both benefitted! At the conclusion of the weekend we returned each others property and talked about how we both achieved a goal by simply helping each other out, and it cost us nothing!

As I thought back to our successful barter, I found myself saying wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to easily connect people that could benefit from each other in this same way, or possibly even other ways! A few days later I was sketching out the early concept of what would be the Barter Better Mobile app.