swap stuff free

5 Ways to Swap Stuff Free

Want to get rid of your stuff but don’t want to just throw it away? Here are 5 ways I swap stuff free. What I love about swapping is that it’s so easy. Sure, I’d love to sell stuff I don’t use anymore on EBay. But, I don’t have time to take pictures, write up descriptions, price everything, track purchases and otherwise deal with the hassle of being an online seller. Swapping is the perfect solution, and these ways make it easy to do.

swap stuff free
Swapping gets rid of clutter!

cluttered garage

Plus, when you swap stuff free, in addition to getting rid of clutter and reducing trash, you free up your budget to afford other items that you need to buy. Some greener products can be a bit more expensive than their conventional counterparts, but when you swap stuff for free, you create more room in your budget for the green essentials you want.

Of course, another way to increase your budget for green goods is to use cash back credit cards when you do make a purchase, and to use that free cash back money to supplement your overall green living budget. That’s why we’ve teamed up with CreditLoan.com on this post. Swapping for what you want, and using cash back to help you afford what you need, is a pretty good way to help pay for your greener lifestyle.

5 Ways to Swap Stuff Free

Books – Put up a Little Free Library

Little Free Libraries are just about the easiest way to swap books I know of. Here’s how they work: You build or put up a water-proof box where it can be accessed any time of the day or night (many people put them on their front lawns). The box isn’t too big – maybe 24 inches wide and 30 inches high. It closes with a latch, but doesn’t lock, so anyone can put a book in or take one out. It might have 2 shelves in it so it can accommodate 20 or so books. swap stuff freeAnyone walking buy is welcome to take a book out for free. You can also put one of your own books in for free – in fact, that’s the idea. Take a book out, put a book in. If you don’t want to build an actual box, you can get creative by using a water-proof trunk, an old refrigerator, a small furniture chest, or anything else that helps to hold the books.

Of course, you can always donate books to a school or a library. But for a true swap? Consider putting up a Little Free Library on your block, and encourage neighbors to do the same. You can also put up free libraries in apartment buildings and condo and townhome complexes.

Clothes – Set up a clothing exchange with friends and neighbors

Moms are masters when it comes to swapping their kids clothes. It’s easy to swap clothes an older kid has outgrown with a mom who has a toddler. Teenage girls are great at swapping, too. It extends their budgets  and keeps them up on the latest fashions without having to lay out too much cash. But what if you need to clear out your own closet and would like to change up your wardrobe a bit? Try organizing a clothing swap with friends and family, or colleagues at work. Here are the basic “rules” to help make it a success. Essentially, host a fun coffee or happy hour. Invite a group as large or small as you want. Ask everyone to bring clothing that is clean and in good condition. Have a place where all the clothes can be set out by size and/or style. Then let the swapping begin. Donate any leftover clothes to a local charity. GetRichSlowly.org lays out more precise guidelines for a successful swap here.

swap stuff free
Swap veggies and plants from your garden.

Garden Plants – Swap seeds, seedlings, and the plants themselves

Swapping garden plants is a no brainer for a lot of reasons. Plants can be expensive, and there’s no guarantee they’ll thrive in your garden. When you swap, you get plants for free, keep plants out of the trash if you don’t compost, and can get access to plants from gardens that get the same amount of rainfall, sunlight, or pests as yours. Swap plants informally via a neighborhood list serv, or join your local garden club and start an annual spring plant swap. By the way you can also swap the vegetables and herbs you grow for ones you don’t.

Don’t Miss: Don’t Buy Plants. Swap! (I did, and saved $50.)

swap stuff free
Wouldn’t it be great to swap out some of these toys?

Kids’ Stuff – Swap Toys, Games and Sporting Equipment

Kids usually outgrow their toys and games long before those things break. This is the kind of stuff that has a tendency to pile up and create a lot of clutter, so why not keep putting it to use by setting up a swap? You can organize it the same way you organize a clothes swap, but with an added bonus: get your kids involved, and teach them from an early age to swap and share rather than always think the first they should do is buy news.

Swap meals with neighbors.
Swap meals with neighbors.

Meals – You Make Two, She Makes Two

Swapping meals is great when you want to eat delicious home-cooked food but don’t have time to do all the cooking and shopping every week. One year, a neighbor and I who both worked outside the home and had two little kids to feed decided to swap meals during the week. She made enough for my family two nights a week, and I made enough for her family two weeks a night. It was a great way to have delicious suppers without having to worry about them every night. Plus, it introduced us to recipes that the other was unfamiliar with. If you do this, set it up for a trial for a month. Agree on ingredients and make sure you know if anyone has any food allergies. Then, figure out the best delivery time. (This is not a potluck, so people aren’t going to each others’ homes for dinner, though they could.)

What are your favorite ways to swap stuff free? Please share!

See More Related:

Share with Friends

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Go Green. Save Money. Guaranteed!

Save $5,070 with our FREE Go Green Save Money Guide

About Diane

Diane MacEachern is a mother of two kids, best-selling author and award-winning entrepreneur with a Master of Science degree in Natural Resources and the Environment. She founded Big Green Purse because she is passionate about sharing her experience and expertise with anyone who wants to live green and save money doing it.

Welcome

Hi! I’m passionate about helping you protect yourself and your family and save money doing it. I believe we can use the power of our purse or pocketbook to change the world.

Here’s how it all started.

Shop Green

Instant Pot Smart Bluetooth

Reusable Cotton Face Mask w/Filters

Big Green Purse Approved!

Most Popular Posts

Subscribe to Our Free Newsletter for More Money-Saving Green Living Tips

Why My Purse is Green

This website uses cookies

We use cookies to make sure that you have the best possible experience on Big Green Purse. Cookies help you find what you’re looking for, help us show you additional content we think you might be interested in, and also help us optimize our site’s performance. Sound helpful?

Go Green. Save Money. Guaranteed!

Save $5,070 THIS YEAR With Our FREE Go Green, Save Money Guide