Budgets are being squeezed and our days of frivolous spending are over. Bartering is making a comeback, says Julia Breen.

THERE is an entry on u-exchange. com which reads: “Amanda, Darlington.

What I have to offer: 2 koi carp fish, 4-5 inches.

“What I’m looking for: Anything interesting.”

Bartering is back. Inflation running at over five per cent? No worries.

Just cut out the middle man – money, that is – and swap your stuff instead.

If you’re sick of feeding your koi carp and fancy another hobby, just swap them. Can’t sell your house?

Swap it. Can’t afford to get your nails done? Offer to cut your nail technician’s grass. Preferably before she does your nails.

u-exchange.com has dozens of entries from homeowners in the North- East, sick of the credit squeeze and the stagnant housing market, wanting to simply swap their home for another.

TV programmes like Twiggy’s Frock Exchange are fuelling a huge rise in thrift, the like of which hasn’t been seen since we tried to cook nutritious meals for four using powdered egg, a spud and a tablespoon of flour during the Second World War.

Make Do and Mend has never been so popular. In the last year, we’ve gone from spendaholics, carelessly mounting up huge credit card bills to buy the latest Louboutin heels, to offering to iron two large sackfuls of clothing in return for a hair cut.

Jonathan Attwood, director of swapitShop.com, says: “Our business is going up and up. Last month alone we had more than 40,000 new subscribers and our members are now trading more than a quarter of a million pounds’ worth of goods every month.”

It is estimated that about £5.9bn is tied up in unused games, music and toys lying around in kids’ bedrooms.

Adults also have an estimated £2.4bn of unworn items hanging in wardrobes.

Jordan Scheer set up Lets (the Local Exchange Trading System) in North Yorkshire in 1994. The currency is cobbles – so called because there are cobbles in Richmond, where it was originally set up. One cobble is equivalent to about £1. People pay for goods and services – anything from vegetables to shiatsu massage – and earn cobbles for offering their own services.

Wealth is kept within communities, and trading happens all the time, with monthly meetings an ideal chance to buy or sell.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of Lets can ring Jordan on 01833-690532. For more information on Lets and details of other North-East groups, log on to letslinkuk.net.