How to Organize a Back to School Swap Meet at Your Child’s School
by Tracy Morrison on Aug 07, 2009 with 0 Comments
Getting your kids ready to go back to school can be a huge expense. Clothing, shoes and school supplies can end up costing you hundreds of dollars. Organizing a swap meet where parents and students can barter and trade needed items can be a great way to save money.
What is a swap meet? A swap meet is a type of trade show or bazaar where pre-owned or secondhand goods are sold or “swapped”. This setting is a perfect way to trade or sell the items your kids have outgrown and barter or buy larger or newer items for the coming school year.
The best time to start this project is the first week of the school year. Some school districts like to do it at the end of the previous year but your child may have grown or lost or gained weight over the summer making the items you have gotten useless!
Approach your child’s school administration and ask them about organizing a school gym or cafeteria “School Item Swap Meet “on a Saturday or Sunday. Once you have agreed on a date, make some simple flyers and posters and ask the school to copy and distribute to students to take home to notify parents so they may participate as well. You will definitely need volunteers for this.
Set up a table for each participant to set out their clean, laundered and otherwise excellent condition items with prices on it. People may come in and buy or barter for items with others by the dollar value of the items they have for sale! This can not only be an excellent way to get much needed school items, it is also a great way to meet and get to know other parents at your child’s school.
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Published in: Personal Finance
