Sometimes the best way to hold onto some of your hard-earned dollars is by figuring out any skills and services you can offer and swapping them out with other people.

For instance, maybe you’re a handy person and you have a friend who needs some odd jobs done around their house. And maybe that same friend makes their own wine. You can help out your buddy by doing his work and he can give you some of his wine.

Swapping is an easy and smart way to save money. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Clothing Swap

This is a great option for moms who have children who are roughly the same size. Kids can go through clothes like crazy, so if you can swap items that are no longer working for you and get ones from your mom friends, that’s a great money saver.

But it doesn’t just apply to kids, it can save women a lot of money too. If you have any friends who are close to your size, you can raid each other’s closets. Many items in most people’s closets sit unused because we tend to wear our favorites repeatedly. The items that we’re not as crazy about just sit there being ignored.

But one man’s trash is another person’s treasure. You can grab an armload of items you’d be willing to trade out and have a girls’ night where your friends of similar size meet and swap clothes. It’s like going shopping without receiving a big bill afterward.

Babysitting

Hiring a babysitter is expensive. You might just be looking for a date night out on the town or you might need someone to watch your munchkin while you’re at work. Either way, a friend may be able to help out free of cost. If they have a child too, you can offer to take theirs in return for another night.

Even if you only do this babysitting swap once a month, you can save hundreds of dollars during the course of a year.

Swapping Garden Produce

If you have a small backyard garden and your friend does too, you might want to strike up a bargain. If you have an excess of tomatoes, for instance, and your friend has had a great year with the corn he has planted, you two can exchange crops.

Exercise Gear

Paying for a gym membership can get really pricey. You’ll pay hundreds of dollars per year for a single membership in some cities and even more than that for a family membership. If you don’t have the money for that kind of thing, don’t worry. You can still get your exercise in.

Look at the equipment you do have at your house. Maybe you have some weights, a jump rope, a bicycle, and some exercise DVDs. Put out a notice on Facebook to see if any of your friends would be interested in doing a weekly gear swap.

Your friend might have a tennis racket and difference exercise DVDs. Another friend might have other equipment no one else in your group has. By doing a swap, you’ll get access to more gear that will keep your workout routine fresh, which will keep you more motivated.

To ensure you never have to worry about being laid off, you should try creating passive streams of income. Those revenue streams will come in handy even if you don’t get laid off – they may help you become financially independent so you can kiss your job goodbye as soon as you see fit.

Here are some ideas as to how to create those passive sources of income.

Buy a Rental Property

While you’ll have to do some basic duties as a landlord, it’s considered a passive income stream. You won’t have to do much work to collect your payday.

Some people have reached financial success by renting a duplex, living in one side of it virtually rent-free while renting out the other side to a tenant. You could also buy a house that’s in need of some TLC and spend a few weeks renovating it in your free hours. After that initial work, you’ll have a passive revenue stream you’ll always be able to count on.

Begin a Blog

Beginning a blog does take some work in the beginning. But once you set up your blog and add some articles, you might be able to turn it into a money maker. It will require some effort in the early months, but if you add in affiliate marketing or sell ads, it might be a long-term moneymaker.

If you have a great idea for a blog, but don’t have the time or effort to do the set-up work, you can always hire writers to provide articles. It will cut into your profits, but it may earn you more money in the long run.

Write an E-Book

Do you know more about a specific topic than almost anyone you know? You can write an e-book about it and potentially make a tidy sum of money. It will take a while to write your book, but after that, it can keep selling forever.

Look for a popular subject and give it your own unique spin. Wouldn’t it be great to make money off of something you did years prior?

Sell Your Photos

If you have a talent for photography, why not cash in on it? It takes a special eye to capture a moment as it unfolds. And it takes a savvy business person to realize that moment might bring in revenue for years to come.

There are numerous websites which allow you to post your photos. You won’t earn much money for a single sale, but over time, one photo can generate a hefty amount of money. And if you’re spending time doing a hobby you enjoy, you’ll have fun while doing it.

Charge on Your Cash-Back Credit Card

This won’t generate a lot of cash for you, but the good news is you won’t have to lift a finger to earn it. Charge any purchases you would regularly make anyway – like gas, clothes, and groceries. Use your cash-back credit card and make sure you pay off the full balance every month.

You’ll get paid to be responsible with your money.