How to Save Money by Starting a Swap Shop in Your Town

Organizing a swap shop in your town is a great way to help yourself and other save money. A swap shop can be a permanent thing much like a thrift store, a once or twice a year event, or even a virtual system of trade. The idea of swapping items with others in the community has caught on, and people are becoming more in more interested in saving money in this way.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Community involvement
• Location
• Used goods

1. Find a location to start the swap shop in. Renting a storefront and setting it up like a thrift store works, but does require money. Holding the swap shop in a school, church, or other venue such as a firehouse or club hall makes more sense if the goal is to save money.

2. Create the barter rules that the swap shop will operate under. For every item that is brought to the swap shop in the neighborhood, the person would get a certain credit to be used at the swap shop only. Different items may have different credit amounts. For example, a piece of clothing could be one point while a television could be ten.

3. Check legalities in your area about trading in certain types of merchandise such as weapons, knives, and adult items. Otherwise, make rules about what can and cannot be traded.

4. Starting a swap shop in your town can be a great way to save money on items you need. By practicing barter, people can easily get rid of things cluttering up their home and receive items they can use or want.

Tips & Warnings

• Create a contract that every swapper must sign.

Resources

• Save Money Frugal Tips

[tamby2112]

on 9/23/2009 Great tips on how to start a swap shop in your town. I have heard a lot about swapping lately it sounds great. Thanks for all of the great information.