Swap don’t spend!

by Rachel Robson on 16 July 2009  |  0 comments
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When money is a little tight it pays to get creative! And one of my favourite ways of doing this is by swapping stuff rather than buying it brand new.

When money is a little tight it pays to get creative! And one of my favourite ways of doing this is by swapping stuff rather than buying it brand new.

Swapping has really taken off over the past year or so, with more and more swapping websites popping up everywhere - allowing you to swap pretty much whatever you want!

So let's take a look at some of the best items to swap and exchange...

Books

Instead of buying a new book, you could of course go to your local library. But if that just feels like too much effort, why not try swapping online!

Websites such as readitswapit and BookMooch allow you to swap books with other members absolutely free! It really is that simple.

Clothes

Websites such as BigWardrobe.com and swapstyle.com allow you to swap clothes, shoes and accessories and you won't have to pay a thing to join! So if you fancy sprucing up your wardrobe or getting rid of some stuff you never wear, this is a great way to do it.

Alternatively, you could host your own clothes swapping party and get your friends to bring any unwanted clothes along - then start swapping! Bring some nibbles and wine along and make a night of it!

Gardening

Did you know that you can now swap seeds and plants on several swapping websites? So if you're a keen gardener and have a collection of seeds, plants, or trees (yes, trees!) you don't want, you can post them on websites such as SeedyPeople and Gardening Unplugged. You'll then be able to swap them for the stuff you do want!

Houses!

I really love this - it's even possible to swap your home - whether this is a permanent arrangement or just for a holiday.

EasyHouseExchange, for example, allows you to display the details of your home, state where you want to move to (within UK and Ireland), and browse around for a property you fancy - and hopefully find a swap partner. Bear in mind you will need to pay £29.95 to list a property on the website.

Alternatively, if you're just looking to swap your home for a holiday take a look at UKHolidaySwapShop (for UK holidays), Intervac, Homelink, and Homebase Holidays. However, you will have to pay to join all of these - usually somewhere between £30 and £115 a year. Geenee is the only website that's free to join.

You can read more about this in Property Swap Shop!

Other stuff

There are of course other general swapping websites such as SwapShop where you can swap pretty much anything you want. You swap your items for points, and can then use these points to buy other items you fancy! And it's free to join.

Alternatively, Swapz allows you to swap items directly with other people - allowing you to completely avoid the points system.

So next time you want to get rid of something, or fancy buying a new book/coat/DVD, think about swapping it instead! After all, the savings will really pile up!

And if you've got any other swapping tips, you can share them in the comments boxes below.