Millions turn to internet swap shops (UK)

[Dover]

Millions turn to internet swap shops
By Rupert Neate
06/07/2008

Millions of families hit by the credit crisis are turning to internet swap shops to help save money.

The number of British users of Freecycle, a website that allows members to trade goods and services, has more than doubled to 1.2 million in the past year.

Households are discovering they can collect second-hand toys, furniture and even cars for a token gift of a chocolate bar or bottle of wine.

advertisementThe pioneering website, created by eco-warriors trying to prevent unwanted white goods polluting landfill sites, is attracting more than 2,000 new members every day. As wages have failed to keep pace with spiralling prices, the average family is now left with £155 a month less to spend than in 2004.

Middle-class households, who might have once turned up their noses at second-hand goods, are finding the website provides a lifeline.

Sian Hagan, 41, from Beaconsfield, Bucks, said: "When household bills, food prices and petrol are going up so much, Freecycle makes sense.

"I picked up a bicycle for nothing, which I now use instead of the car for short journeys to save on petrol." ..cont'd

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2008/07/07/noindex/nswap.xml&CMP=EMC-expat2008

[AnneD]

1. OMG....

what will they do when consumers stop using money and switch to a barter economy. All I can say is the banks and government brought it on themselves.