Host a swap

Save money, reduce waste, and build a community

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.
Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is to host a swap as we come
to the holidays. Trading items with friends and neighbors can

(00:26):
help everyone save some money while still enjoying new to
them treats. Plus, it's fun to build community with people
who like the same sort of things. Every holiday season,
I find myself intrigued by the idea of a cookie
swap party. They are a fun way to end up

(00:49):
with a variety of sweets. If you have six people
at a swap, each of you would make five dozen
of your favorite kind of cookie to share. Unless every
one baked the exact same cookie. This would mean that
each attendee would go home with a dozen each of
five varieties of cookies, and of course you'd get together

(01:11):
with five friends to celebrate the holidays. The cookies are
really just a bonus, if a nice one. Some people
do clothing swaps too. I think they are particularly good
for kids who often outgrow clothes before the clothes give
out in a way that just doesn't happen for grown ups.

(01:34):
Kids also try various sports too, which means you might
wind up with ice skates that are now too small
for your daughter who has moved on to lacrosse. Best
to give them to someone else whose kid is considering
skating lessons, and if you don't necessarily know who that
might be, a neighborhood swaps a great way to find

(01:56):
out and maybe to score some used Lacrois equipment at
the same time. Clothes and cookies are the most common
fodder for swaps, but you could see how this concept
could expand to other things too. A hobby swap would
be a great way to meet other people who enjoy
a pastime, pick up some new gear, and unload the

(02:19):
stuff you no longer use. Any serious scrap booker or
knitter winds up with material that they don't use as
often as their favorite stuff. Somebody else might want to
knit a sweater in that exact shade of green you
elected not to use. Particularly as we get toward the holidays,

(02:42):
a swap could be a great way to stretch a budget.
A kid who wants a set of blocks doesn't need
to know that they are not in the original packaging.
They are still really cool, packed into a clever basket
and wrapped up, same with sports gear or cool bigger
kid clothes. Now, obviously it's a little trickier scoring gifts

(03:06):
for adults at a swap, though it wouldn't have to
be if you and your friends and family all committed
to giving the second hand market a try. But even
if you won't go that far, as swap could be
a great way to get some new holiday decorations if
everyone's feeling a little tired of their own, and you

(03:28):
can always score some new presents for yourself in the
process since you wouldn't care as much about the formalities. Personally,
I love the idea of a book swap. We often
wind up with lots of books that we've read but
don't need to keep. Donating is great, so is trading.

(03:49):
It's a great way to find out what you'd like
to read next. There are lots of ways you could
host a swap. Some very serious swaps involve a currency
of credit, where you get a certain number of credits
based on the number and quality of items you bring in.
If that sounds like too much work, don't worry. There

(04:10):
are plenty that unfold a lot more organically. Just trusting
that everyone's interest in maintaining the relationships will prove stronger
then their desire to grab the really nice pair of
ice skates or golf clubs. If you're doing a hobby
or game swap, teaming up with a local business or

(04:30):
organization could help you get the news out and maybe
provide a space. Inviting people to a swap is also
one of the best uses of social media. You can
post on local groups about your swap and people will
spread the word to their own networks too. In any case,
we often buy new stuff because that's easiest. I know

(04:55):
I do this and often that is perfectly fine, but
can be really satisfying to find a good home for
your stuff and to be able to give stuff a
longer life. A swap can do this and let everyone
enjoy getting new things. If it saves money, well that's

(05:19):
just frosting on the cookie. In the meantime, this is Laura.
Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of
our times. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you.

(05:41):
You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else.
Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at
before Breakfast pod. That's b the number four. Then breakfast
p O D. You can also shoot me an email
at Before Breakfast podcast at I Hurt Me da dot
com that Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters.

(06:04):
Thanks so much, should I look forward to staying in touch.
Before Breakfast is a production of I heart Radio. For
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