ATLANTA , Georgia ( CNN ) -- Some people living in Atlanta have found a way to get goods and services without spending their hard-earned cash . Misty Love discusses YOUME options with A.J . Butler and Nick Viola . Once a week , this group that calls itself the YOUMEs gather around a campfire in Dr. David Epstein 's backyard to offer what they have and to find out who within their community might have something they want . Each person takes a turn offering assets and announcing needs . Robin , an artist and interior designer , is looking for someone to refinish her hardwood floors . The next person up , Jo-Jo , a Pilates instructor who grew up on a boat , knows all about hardwood floors and can help Robin . A connection is made . Watch them make their pitch » . Cameron , an acupuncturist , is looking for someone to fix his bike . A.J . Butler , a student , says he likes working on bikes and , although he has never seen an acupuncturist , will probably exchange time with Cameron -- another connection . The group is part of a growing national trend of communities looking for low-impact , locally rooted solutions in this challenging economy . Along with saving money , they 're meeting neighbors , learning what they have to offer and making connections that they say will benefit themselves and their community , today and in the future . The YOUMEs are still working on guidelines , such as whether a premium should be placed on highly developed skills or arduous tasks . `` It 's really about the two people who are making the arrangement , so if you have a really dirty job that takes six hours , maybe the other person would offer 10 hours of gardening , '' Epstein said . There are hundreds of barter networks set up across the country . Many use barter credits as currency , so a plumber who needs to have a cavity filled does n't need to search for a dentist 's office with plumbing problems to make a deal . He can fix a leaky pipe for one member of a network and use the credits he earned for that job at any other . Michael Krane , president of Green Apple Barter Services in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , says his company has brokered everything from breast implants to college tuition to a horse . Web sites that put Americans in touch with like-minded people who are willing to trade everything under the sun have also seen a boost in traffic . SwapThing , which lists almost 3.5 million `` things '' available for trade , reports that its customers are bartering for different reasons than before . Although there is an online element to YOUME group , what sets it apart from other barter groups is the personal connection made at the weekly meetings . `` There 's a scarcity of money and jobs , but we still have ourselves , our skills and our relationships . And we know that if we offer those , we 'll get something back , '' Epstein said . `` Yes , this sort of thing is also happening on the Internet , but when it 's supported by a personal connection , it makes for a more valuable process . '' Jeanne St. Romain agreed . `` I like the personal aspect . I 'm on my computer all day . You ca n't connect in the same way online . '' Butler sees the meetings as an alternative to social networking sites . `` Facebook is fine , but a lot of the people I 'm in contact with on Facebook are very similar to me in terms of age or stage in life . Jeanne and I would never meet on Facebook , '' Butler said , `` but here we are , talking about bike repair and marketing . '' This life-enriching aspect is key , according to Epstein . `` We 're hoarding our money and protecting it for utilities and mortgages and those types of expenses , but in doing so , we 're depriving ourselves . Here , we 're able to save our money for those things that require money and enrich our lives in the process . '' Although life enrichment is a benefit for many , Misty Love , who 's unemployed , needs help with more basic needs . `` I can do manual labor , video editing , massage . I 'm looking for food . I would like a place to live , rides around town , basic necessities , '' she said . For group founder David Frane , the process is about finding a sustainable way of life without having to sacrifice too much . `` We all know how to be sustainable ; we give up everything . But it 's not a very palatable way to go through life . I do n't want to live like a monk and not enjoy the things we enjoyed growing up . '' But he also believes that it strengthens the community . `` In the normal process of purchasing things , we really lose track of the money once it 's out of our hands . What we 're trying to do here is spend our resources in ways that benefit our community , '' Frane said .
Making no - cash deals with neighbors can help in down economy . A group meets to offer and trade goods or services together . YOUMEs see this as a way to save money , get better quality of life . Other people join the groups where they can get opportunities to trade .