This morning I got a call from Mrs. Hillbilly. She wanted to do some bartering. Mrs. Hillbilly made her menu plan for the week and had discovered a few things missing from her pantry. On her wish list; diced tomatoes, onions, black beans, and pasta.
So of course I showed up with a few extras. Annie’s Pasta {free from Vitacost} was a total no go, as was the boxed oatmeal. She also turned down my canned water chestnuts.
So in the end, this is what was up for trade.
- 1 bags Arrowhead Puffed Rice {free with coupons}
- 4 boxes Barilla whole wheat grain pasta {free with coupons}
- 1 box Wheat Chex {free with coupons}
- 1 container of jalapenos {free with coupons}
- 1 container Planter’s sunflowers {free with coupons}
- 1 can black beans {cheap, I can’t remember how much I paid}
- 1 gallon diced tomatoes {purchased from Costco 2 years ago}
- 1 panty hose leg full of onions {scored a deal at Costco}
We decided to split the giant can of diced tomatoes. Mrs. Hillbilly plans on making homemade tomato sauce with hers, and I’ve already decided to what I’ll be doing with mine {you’ll have to check back tomorrow to find out}. So after we divided the tomatoes up, I tried to figure out what I wanted in exchange.
The only thing I knew I wanted for certain was ground beef.
After grabbing the beef from her freezer, Mrs. Hillbilly suggested I take a look in her “gift closet.” At first she tried offering me some disgusting candles that only old ladies with gobs of perfume and big hair would like. Seeing I was dissatisfied, she then reached for a Burt’s Bees Gift bag.
I almost wet my pants.
It was the same Burt’s Bee gift bag I had given to her last year for Christmas {the Mad Scientist had given it to me at her Hunukkah party only a few days prior to me re-gifting it to Mrs. Hillbilly}. I was laughing so hard I could barely get “Hey, I gave that to you last Christmas.” out of my mouth. It was AWESOME!
Then I took a whiff of some nice smelling peach soap {another re-gift she was trying to pawn off on me}.
In the end, this is what I came home with:
- 5 out of 8 Starbucks peppermint hot chocolate packets
- 1 bottle Log Cabin syrup {sugar free, gag}
- 2 cans of beans
- 1 box of corn bread mix
- 1 smelly peach soap
- 1 frozen pouch of guacamole
- 2 pounds of ground beef
So what do you think? Who got the better deal? Mavis, or Mrs. Hillbilly?
Rachel says
She got the better deal. Although I’m glad your family will appreciate the meat.
Carol says
Mavis, I think you won. Mrs. Hillbilly’s stash looks bigger, but yours wasn’t all carbs…..so in my world, you win!
Elizabeth says
Why would you turn down Burt’s Bees, more than once even??
Sherri says
Haha my thoughts exactly! Burt’s Bees is like gold in my world!
Elizabeth says
Really I need to put the lemon cuticle stuff on every night and the almond milk cream works the best to keep the skin from cracking on my hands. Oh and it smells so good.
Susan says
I think it’s even-steven. You both got a good deal, so it’s success all the way around!
sara says
She got the better deal sorry
Mary Ann says
Yep, I have to agree — Mrs Hillbilly got the better deal.
Debbie T says
I think Mrs. Hillbilly won. I love seeing these stories–wish I had a good neighbor to barter with.
Lisa says
Mrs. Hillbilly got the better deal. Does she like it that you call her that?! lol
Mrs hillbilly says
Yes i do, it rolls off the tongue! Technically i am not a hillbilly but i am definantly from the south. We have a sense of rumor down there … Life is too short not to.
Ann says
I think you both won, being you both got things that you needed. You might not have gotten as much, but you got some much needed meat.
Susie says
Tough to say, but I think she got the better deal. Probably because I like all the stuff you gave her more than the stuff you got from her. But the beef was a win, so it wasn’t bad at all!
D'Anna says
Monetarily I think you scored the bigger win since 98% of what you traded was free to begin with and IMO, the almost full box of peppermint cocoa was worth it.
Helen in Meridian says
At least you have trained Mrs. Hillbilly to call with a list of what she needs. Now she is the Barter Queen this week. Good thing she didn’t offer you CHICKEN.