STUFF. It’s just a great word.

A few weeks ago, I caught wind of the most excellent idea lurking on the pages of the Interwebs – online swap meets. My most favorite fashion blogger wrote long and oft of how she swapped her cute things for new and different cute things. Which she then went on to incorporate into her daily style – a style that never ceases to delight and amaze me.

I know I’ll never be as hip/savvy/fashion-forward as 9/10ths of the fashionista writers of the Web, but I can – and do – swap my stuff online. Better still, I can alert the masses (the masses that read my site anyway) about how and where to swap, too. Knowledge is power, people.

First up, here are three online swapping resources for your perusal:

Online swap meet sites, like Swap-Online.com. You can swap everything from aquarium accessories to wine-making supplies. They run on a barter and trade system – no dollar amounts are even listed. Plus, it’s free to join, free to use. List your item, and then include what you’d be willing to swap it for. You’re not limited to swap one item for one item, either. You can swap one expensive thing (like a car) for several smaller swaps (like electronic equipment), too.

Flickr Groups for swapping (this is what I joined). They have a different swap group for all your swapping needs – clothing, crafting items, even food. This is pure free trade, as it’s against Flickr’s rules to use your photos for commercial purposes. Once again, this site is free to join and free to use. You only pay to ship your item to the recipient – no handling fees, please. Simply upload the photo of what you’re swapping, include a description in the comments (be thorough), and post it on the swap group page. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

SwapItGreen.com, a different way to swap. On this site, you swap your stuff for points, and then swap your points for stuff. So you’re not just limited to trading your item for another item right away. For example, swap your DVDs for a bunch of points, then use the points to “buy” a leather coat (the one I’m eyeing is 20 points). They have swap categories ranging from antiques to video games. However, this site is not completely free to use. You do pay a transaction fee per swap – which is incredibly inexpensive. My 20 point swap would cost me one whole dollar in transaction fees.

Tips on Swapping, based on my brief swapping experience:

1. Take a really good picture of the item. If possible, upload multiples, so swappers have a clear idea of what your stuff looks like.

2. Be honest. List any defects, wear and tear, or flaws. Trust me, lying about the item will come back to you in a slew of negative feedback, or worse, getting kicked out of the group. BANNED FOR LIFE.

3. Read all the instructions/FAQs before you swap. They’ll explain how you contact someone to swap, how to follow up, and how to leave feedback.

4. For Flickr swaps, check the Discussion boards for warnings about bad swappers or “swaplifters” (no, I didn’t coin that particular word).

4. Also for Flickr – have a separate account just for swapping. It makes it easier to keep track of your photos that way. And swappers won’t be wandering over to view your Las Vegas vacation pix.

Let me hear from you – have you done any online swapping? For STUFF. Like CLOTHES. Sheesh.