Many homeschool associations or co-ops have book swaps. Everyone brings in the the books they’re done with or haven’t used and in turn you swap the old with the new (at least to you) or needed.
A new and growing trend with the economy in a slump is not just swapping books but swapping clothing too.
Back to School time in the traditional sense (September), is a great time to plan one and give away old clothes and get other ones that your children (or you) need. A clothing swap is just the way to do that.
Families with only children (like mine) or with only one boy/girl among other siblings tend to outgrow their clothes before they can outwear them, and if you don’t have family to hand them down to (or get them from) a clothing swap could be a money saver for you and others.
How it works is, everyone brings gently worn and in good condition clothing. You could set it up as a one-for-one trade or stuff a shopping bag full. If it is agreeable to everyone the clothing that is not picked up by swap members could be donated to charity.
Combine it with a book swap as well, let the kids play, bring some cookies or snacks and juice and coffee and you have a social event as well.
It is also a great way to teach your kids about recycling and the aspect of trading for goods instead of purchasing.
Let us know if you have ever participated in a clothing swap and how it was arranged!
Photo Credit by net_efekt
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We sort of did this at our co-op. We just had a bin in the lounge that just said "Free to good home," and people could add and take from it as needed. A lot of people would also just bring in bags of clothes, labeled with gender and size and leave them by the bin. Those who needed, took.