Quite a lot of people are sceptical about face to face trades, because of the risks that come with it, but that is the only way you can trade your money for bitcoin without linking it with your bank account or identity. If you must use face to face trade, remember to meet your counterparty in a public place and you can also go along with your friend; also ensure the trade doesn't happen anywhere near your home so you're not followed.
There are people who provide these services and have a long history and reputation. They are not going to risk their reputation over your small amount of money. That said a lot of people end up doing face to face trades with complete randoms and such deals have a high chance of going sour the more money is involved. It is best to look for established P2P traders and not engage with strangers if you can avoid it.