Ideal Bite

How can insider knowledge pay off for you?

Submitted by tmeronek on Mon, 06/04/2007 - 2:01am.

The Bite:

You can trade trash for treasure through an online swap site, if you know where to look. Here's the scoop.

The Benefits:

Getting stuff you want. Get DVDs, furniture, concert tix, anything - no new purchase necessary.
Clearer closets. Get rid of anything you don't need...well, almost anything: no listing your spare kidneys or step-kids.
Less consumption, less waste. Americans are the #1 consumers of natural resources and the #1 producers of trash (including product packaging).

Personally Speaking:

While traveling abroad, Heather leaves her books in airports, trains and (surprise, surprise) bars for other English-speaking travelers to pick up. It works great except when locals chase her down to give them back.

Wanna Try:

BookCrossing - leave used books in designated public places for other email-alerted bookworms to pick up.
Freecycle - join a local group of swappers online.
LendList - a share site where you compile a list of things you have to loan out, then send the list around to your friends.
Swapagift - someone give you a gift card you'll never use? Swap it for cash here.
Zunafish - swap books, CDs, DVDs and video games for $1/trade, plus shipping.

Jordan Klaasen