Host a Stockpile Swap Party

If you are a big couponer, you most likely have a great stockpile of stuff.  You may even have stuff that you are not going to use and maybe got because it was free.  Here is a great way to host a Stockpile Swap Party:

• Pick a day of the week when the majority of your friends can attend
• Advertise and invite your friends and family via Facebook
• Be very clear on the guidelines of your party.
• Each person generally is asked to bring ten new, unopened grocery, cleaning or toiletry items. Make these terms very clear. Also ask each participant to check expiration dates and double-check that the items had never been opened or used.
• Some people may also want to bring other things that are new and free, like free samples (grouped in a bag) or free items like books, cell phone covers, vouchers for free products and more!  If your friends can jams and jellies, they may want to bring those.
• Give each person a name tag with one of four different colors. These colors were used to divide into four smaller groups. Then established an “order of play”. An example might be,  a rotating cycle of Pink, Green, Red, Blue.
• As a color group would go to the tables, each person can select only one item. rotate through the same four groups until everyone had accumulated ten items.
• If there are any extra items, you can raffle them off or donate them to a local charity.

It is encouraging to see people go home with ten new items because you knew they were things they hand-picked and really could use! You can also have a  table full of coupons that were free for the taking and door prizes to give away.  Encourage others to bring coupons they are not going to use.

If it is a hit, plan one for about every 3-6 months to give people a fun way to swap and save!