Swap shopping is a new craze hitting the UK, with people up and down the country finding it a great way to save money on everything from clothes and furniture to electrical and leisure items. But what is it?
Put simply, swap shopping is where frugal-minded people either meet up or use dedicated online services to exchange old or unwanted items. This is a great way to give a new home to other people’s unwanted clothes, shoes, artwork, toys, furniture, electronic equipment or any other miscellaneous items. You get new possessions for free and you also get the chance to clear out the clutter in your home.
The reason so many people are now starting to indulge in swap shopping is that it allows you to get new, often luxury, possessions for free, which is an especially exciting prospect for those with debt problems. It also gives you the chance to clear out the unsellable clutter in your home, as well as being good for the environment as items are re-homed rather than being thrown away.
Where to go for swap shopping
- On the internet – online swap shoppers tend to head for Swapz.co.uk, which has one of the biggest swap collections around and is free to join. You could also try Freecycle, where items are generally given away for free rather than swapped.
- Swap shop parties – This is a more social way to exchange fashion, beauty and other items with friends, as something that your friend has grown tired of may be perfect for you!