Create your own 'on a budget' group

High prices at stores coupled with lower wages have encouraged enterprising people to create new ways to shop for less. The rise of swap and sell groups on social media sites and neighborhood initiatives is enabling many consumers to buy what they need at discounted costs.

Just about anyone can create a group specializing in the sale of new or gently used items. What's more, narrowing it down by niche could attract even more followers and help items move more quickly.

Thanks to the popularity of social media sites, especially Facebook, many people have realized just how easy it can be to reach potential customers. Tag sale groups that connect individuals who want to buy something with those who are willing to sell are becoming more common.

It's not difficult at all to set up one of these groups and be the moderator. All it takes is following some simple steps provided by the social media site and making some decisions about the group.

* First research if there already is a group like the one you're thinking about creating. Rather than split your audience, it might be better to simply ask to join the existing group.

* As moderator you'll be responsible for some choices. At the forefront is whether to make the group open to the general public or to make a closed group wherein new members can join by invitation only. A closed group can help you keep better tabs on the activity and better enforce the rules of the group.

* You will also need to select the rules. You want people to feel comfortable and safe sharing information via the group, so some guidelines will keep everyone operating on the same page. Should someone repeatedly break the rules, you have a reason to remove them. It's important to spell out that individuals are responsible for their own well-being, and they should use public meeting spots to exchange items.

* You may need to send personal invites to attract people to the group at the outset. But after word-of-mouth spreads, chances are all you will just have to maintain who is joining the group.

* Ideas for groups include baby toys and accessories, shoes/handbags, yard equipment, tools, childcare services, niche items like automotive parts or sports equipment or anything you feel has potential.You also can create the group based on geographic location.

Those who don't have access to a computer or prefer to do sales the tried-and-true way can host regular group yard sales with others to increase the number of items that are available for sale and attract a larger buying crowd. Advertise these sales in the newspaper and at public areas in the community.

Social media sites have revolutionized the way people communicate with one another. They've also changed the way people buy and sell merchandise.