If you like the idea of acquiring books and games for free, as well as a plethora of other amusements you may want to take a look at a relatively new website, Swapster.

Swapster is an online barter system. Rather than swapping your money for other people's unwanted items you are swapping your unwanted items for the items of theirs that you want. Swapster allows you to list your items and assign a point value to your items. Each point has a value of one dollar. You assign the points to your items. When you list your first five items Swapster gives you five points to get you started. As other people find your listed items and purchase them with their points you will accrue a point balance that you can use for your own purchases.

Once you become a member of the site, and membership is free, you can begin to trade your items immediately. Items that can be traded ate:

• CDs
• DVDs
• Video games
• Books
• VHS
• Vinyl records

When you create your ad you will list all of the specifics of the item you are listing, including the format.

Creating an ad is easy. You just sign in and then go to the List Items area. It will prompt you to select a category for your item. Once you select a category follow the instructions to create your ad. Each ad takes about a minute and includes:

• An image
• Information about you
• A description of your item, including detailed information fromthe same item on Amazon
• A Facebook button so you can add your item's availability to your status
• Point Cost
  

When your items sells you will pay shipping costs but there are no fees to the seller. And, if someone joins Swapster through your item's link on Facebook you will get five points added to your account. This is valid for any members that join through your links. Five points...that's five dollars in real world funds.

Once you have points, after listing your first five items, you can begin browsing for items that you might be interested in. When you see something you want, and you have enough points to get it, simply click on the Get It Now button to buy.

As a buyer you will not pay shipping costs but you will pay a small, fifty cent fee for each item you purchase.

After you have traded you will have the opportunity to give the seller or buyer feedback so that others can determine if the person is someone they want to trade with. In fact, Swapster has gone to great lengths to provide a safe place to trade your items. The website guarantees all the transactions and will refund points if a seller does not follow through.

When you join Swapster you will create a profile. You can upload a photo, let other members know about your likes and dislikes, or connect with friends. Like My Space, or Facebook you can leave comments on a member's profile.

Members are also notified when someone buys their items, so that it can be shipped promptly. If you are going to be away on vacation, or other computer sabbatical you can set your account to a convenient Away Mode. This prevents anyone from being able to purchase your items at a time when you are not likely to be able to ship them.

Swapster is a secure site, that encrypts data during transmission and when it is stored.

As the economy causes people to tighten their belts, sites like Swapster provide excellent opportunities for people to get what they want without creating a deficit in their budget. Acquiring books and games for free is an awesome way to get new games and get rid of games that you don't use anymore. Consider too, you won't be paying sales tax, or driving all over town. In fact, swapping is great for the environment because it keeps items out of the trash and being reused.

Saving money by buying second hand is a great way to stretch your dollar but swapping allows you to take your trash and trade it for something you want.

That is good economics.