Want to freshen up your wardrobe without having to spend a dime? There’s no better way than hosting an end-of-summer clothing swap. Ask friends and family to clean out their closets and gather all the items they no longer want. Then gather the group together and turn your living room into your very own version of Buffalo Exchange.
Here are a few pointers on how to organize a successful swap:
Send out invitations at least two weeks in advance. Part of the beauty of a clothing swap is that it encourages everyone to dig through their closets and clean up shop. Depending on how big of a pack rat they are, this kind of project could take a few hours or a few days. Give your guests ample time to get their loot together and you’ll guarantee a good turnout for your event.
Set the ground rules upfront. For each item a person donates, they are allowed to take one item from the swap piles. This keeps things fair and encourages your pals to bring lots of great items. If you really want to make this process simple, pick up a cheap roll of raffle tickets at your local dollar store and rip off a ticket for every item a person brings. When they are ready to pick up a new item, they’ll have to cash in one of their tickets.
Pick a large open space to host your swap. Don’t try to cram all your friends and their swap items into your tiny bedroom. If not organized correctly, swaps can quickly turn into a confusing mess. Clear out a space in your basement, living room or any other large room in your home.
Sort the items carefully. To streamline the swap, ask your friends to bring their items already sorted into categories — accessories, shoes, pants, skirts, dresses, etc. This will make your job much easier. Of course, there will be a few people who show up with giant IKEA bags bursting with items in no particular order. Have a couple of friends on hand to help quickly sort through the bags right away.
Keep the snacks coming. For a clothing swap to be a true success, it shouldn’t feel like a chore. Keep things fun for your friends by offering snacks they can nibble on while they browse. The happier they are, the more likely they are to “shop” and the less likely you’ll have to clean up mountains of clothing afterward. It’s a win-win.
Schedule a donation pick-up. Once the crowd has pilfered through your inventory and made their way home, there will undoubtedly be a few odds and ends left over. Sort the items into plastic bags and donate them to a good cause. The Salvation Army offers free pick-ups in many parts of the U.S.
Mandi Woodruff is the executive editor of MagnifyMoney and host of Brown Ambition, a weekly podcast about career and finance. She is the former personal finance correspondent at Yahoo Finance and former personal finance editor at Business Insider.
Related: How to Save Money on Your Fall Wardrobe
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