How Forming Exchange Clubs Can Help You Save Money
Here’s a great way to help not only your family save precious dollars… but your friends as well. Consider getting a group of friends together and start an exchange club, it is a great way to save money, spend time together, and help each other out.
The purpose of an exchange club is to do just that… exchange things and the possibilities are endless… Here are a few ideas.
♦ Toys between children of similar ages. Each family could fill a large Rubbermaid container with toys that are labeled with their names. Then once a month the club meets and the tubs are exchanged between group members. This will save parents from having to spend money constantly to fill kids appetites for new toys and it will keep kids entertained because the contents of the tub will be changing each month with new toys for them to enjoy.
♦ Children’s Clothes, can be exchanged when group members have children staggered around the same ages and sex. You can pass clothes around between the members of the group to help each member save money on stocking their children up various season’s of clothing. This is very helpful with big items like coats, snowsuits, light jackets, shoes, jeans, etc…
♦ Adult Clothes and Shoes. Members of the group can even help one another out by exchanging clothes for themselves and their spouses between group members. You can try to select group members who are similar sizes and taste in clothing to help each of them to save money on their wardrobes.
♦ Power Tools and Lawn Equipment. Members of the group could share the expense of larger tools and then take turns using them as needed. This will save every family from investing in every tool them self but giving them access to them at a fraction of the cost.
♦ Movies, Books, Video Games and CDs. Members of the group can bring movies, books, and CDs to each meeting and allow other members to borrow them until the next meeting. This will help each family save on the cost of entertainment.
♦ Home Decor Items. If you or another member has redecorated lately, consider making items that you are no longer using available to members of your exchange club to help them spruce up their space.
♦ Babysitting Services. You can set up a system of swapping hours for child care among members of the group to help everyone save money on childcare costs.
♦ Recipes. Share favorite recipes to help other members find a new favorite food.
A few things to keep in mind when starting your exchange club… label everything, set up rules and time frames for borrowing or exchanging that all members agree upon, set up regular meeting times that are convenient for everyone in the group, and consider having monthly themes for each meeting so that you can exchange different things each time.
If you can think of other great items to exchange among members of an exchange club feel free to share them… and consider starting a group like this in your area to help you and those around you save some money.
If you've enjoyed reading this post then please subscribe to our Full Text RSS Feed. And if you just can't get enough of us, feel free to follow LittleStarZone on Twitter or join the Facebook group "Fans of littlestarzone.com".
