As Economy Plummets, Cashless Bartering Soars on the Internet - washingtonpost.com

LONDON -- The next time Kevan Quinn needs his sink unclogged, he won't pay cash. Instead, Quinn will take the plumber and his family out sailing on his boat.

"In this climate, when everyone's concerned about their money, this is a cracking idea," said Quinn, 49, a father of three who found his plumber on http://swapaskill.com, a bartering Web site based in Britain. "It's a great way to get things done without using cash."

Bartering and swapping are booming as the global financial crisis squeezes cash out of the world's wallet. Web sites and business organizations promoting cash-free transactions are growing, from New Hampshire to New Zealand to Sri Lanka, as unemployment soars and millions are struggling to pay their bills.

As Economy Plummets, Cashless Bartering Soars on the Internet - washingtonpost.com