"Sweat Equity".....

[docsoos]

I recently replied to a post on the Preparedness Forum about wild game, where I mentioned "sweat equity" (doing work for someone to receive hunting priveleges, goods, etc). It really got me to thinking about this once-common concept again....

I used to do this on a regular basis, for my yearly hunting priveleges on people I knew or worked with's land. I would trade out electrical or mechanical work that they needed done, until greed got the better of them, and they valued cash instead of friendship and what really matters to all of us.

My question is this: has "sweat equity" gone the way of the dinosaur?

Do we all need to just work untold hours at some dead-end job for cash, then trade THAT for what we want or need? Or are there still people out there that value hard work and assurance of a job well done with a personal touch, that can achieve what THEY want or need, without any expenditure of cash?

My view is, if things get as bad as many fear with this economy, that this "concept" may be making a strong comeback in the near future.

DocSoos

[Terri]

In my family, "Sweat equity" has always been refered to as work done by you to improve your place. Work like painting, putting up a shed or an addition, etc.

I had not realized that in some circles the term might be getting obsolete!

[AlchemyAcres]

Do we all need to just work untold hours at some dead-end job for cash, then trade THAT for what we want or need? Or are there still people out there that value hard work and assurance of a job well done with a personal touch, that can achieve what THEY want or need, without any expenditure of cash?



That's exactly why I do what I do.
It never made any sense to me to work a dreaded job to buy the things that I need, when I can stay right hear at home keeping plenty busy doing what I love to do and what needs to be done to sustain myself ...or bartering time and stuff with neighbors when needed.

I have a similar philosophy when it comes to things that rust, rot or depreciate.
It never made sense to me to invest hundreds or thousands of hours in time away from home to buy, fuel and maintain something like a tractor...when all I need to do is invest a bit more time here at home doing what needs to be done manually.


~Martin

[GoodDaughter]

Maybe it has gone the way of the dinosaur, in some places. Or perhaps to people who own land or hunting leases or whatever, cash is more important than improvements to their places? My husband has been bartering his labor at the hunting lease he's been on for several years now. Lease fees have gone insane, so the old decrepit men who have the lease are physically unable to do a whole lot in terms of fencing, fixing the well, moving the outhouse and all that camp maintenance, clearing roads etc. so dh does a lot of that and gets a huge amount off the fee he has to pay and if I recall correctly, didn't have to pay at all a couple of years. Makes that venison even more cost effective.

[Not2L8]

Docsoos, I don't think sweat equity is totally lost and in this economy may very well be making a comeback.
Yesterday I went to talk with a friend about trading my labor for use of his unused garden space, he cut down the size of his due to the work involved. That deal worked out great and while I was there I repaired his tiller and lawnmower in exchange for 4 other non running mowers, 2 of those I repaired today.

[gregabob]

Just today I agreed to trade the labor to do a brake job on the neighbor's car for future house watching and animal tending labor from her. I'm sure this kind of informal bartering is going on all over the place.

[MooseToo]

i seem to recall a girl from high school who was heavy into this sweat equity thing - wonder what ever happened to her -

probably married to an elected official -

[Travis]

Not real skilled but the skills I have are of value and when somebody wants to say trade a valuable skill like rebuilding a motor for something meaningless like manual labor and wish for a 1 to 1 time exchange it doesn't work and makes me frustrated. What this means is every hour it takes me to rebuild your motor you give me an hour behind the shovel. Well my job would charge you $60 and your charges $10.

Second I get tired of folks asking and I do not need anybody to shovel for me or worse when I ask for a return favor weeks/months/year later they are busy or want money.

So now I have a select group and it works well. There just has be a mutual benefit to it.

[docsoos]

i seem to recall a girl from high school who was heavy into this sweat equity thing - wonder what ever happened to her -

probably married to an elected official -

http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/gg467/doczeus40/rotflmao.gif

DocSoos

[Not2L8]

Not real skilled but the skills I have are of value and when somebody wants to say trade a valuable skill like rebuilding a motor for something meaningless like manual labor and wish for a 1 to 1 time exchange it doesn't work and makes me frustrated. What this means is every hour it takes me to rebuild your motor you give me an hour behind the shovel. Well my job would charge you $60 and your charges $10.

Second I get tired of folks asking and I do not need anybody to shovel for me or worse when I ask for a return favor weeks/months/year later they are busy or want money.

So now I have a select group and it works well. There just has be a mutual benefit to it.

I know what you mean about uneven trades. I recently bought a used transmission from a "friend" for 300 bucks, but knowing I'm a pretty handy guy he said we'll do some trading or settle up later. 1 month later he wants me to build a 20'X40' 3 bay garage for him. I just paid him the 300 and haven't spoken since.

I will sometimes take the losing end of a trade, but I also expect to get the better end of the deal sometimes too.

[AlchemyAcres]

It's wise to not make an open ended deal!!! :D


Win-Win is in!!! LOL


~Martin

[Roots_Farm]

People have become not only greedy but lazy, even between family.

I offered to buy about 100 Cornish Cross’s to raise and split between us and the wife’s brother and sisters. The deal I made was we all got together one weekend and process the birds. I would buy, raise and pay for the feed then we could split it up even and all they had to provide was the labor for a day or two. I got the same response. No on the work but when we (the wife and I) are done processing the birds we can run their share over.

My wife’s little sister’s husband works on cars and has a nice work shop. I have a car trailer that I don’t use that much so I pay for the taxes and plates and he keeps it and uses it. He wore the tires off and now wants me to put new tires on it.

My wife’s other sister’s husband build my mother-in-law suit (I’ll get him back for that), the deck to my pool and several other projects. He figures families just do for one another. At least I have 1 out of the group worth a damn.

BTW: My Cornish Cross deal still stands so come on over to the Roots’ farm this spring and bring your cooler :)

[recoilless_57mm]

Docsoos: I don't think sweat-equity is dead by any means. It may not be as widly used today as it was 50-60 years ago or more. I honestly think we will see a come back of sweat-equity. As folks have to shave the dollars for every penny you will see more being done on the side. Another poster makes a good point. Make sure you and the other fellow understand the whole deal. Many a friendship has been tested because there was not a clear understanding what parts each played. OT