I came across a new way to clear out our "yard sale" pile in the garage, and do a little shopping for myself, without leaving the house. Abilenee Swap Meet is the name, but I call it an addiction. It's a fairly simple Facebook group that allows members to post items for sale, or post messages about stuff they are looking to buy. It's similar to Abilene CraigsList or Abilene ebay, but buyers and sellers are more easily identified through their Facebook profiles.

It seems as though just about anything can be posted for sale on this page. Everything from empty perfume bottles to houses are posted for sale on the group wall. Interested group members can ask questions in the comment section below the post, or simply make an offer to buy.

This obsession is . As of this week (11/2/14) there are over 10,800 members of Abilenee Swap Meet, and that number is growing daily. I couldn't help but notice several of my friends, neighbors and coworkers are members, too. Now I've joined, because there's a chance I might be able to get a sweet deal on something I absolutely have to own.

There have been changes made since the page started. It used to be acceptable to post anything and everything on the page, but there have since been more groups added, including one that specializes in only Auto Sales, Parts and Services, one that features Just Clothes and Shoes, and one called Formal Fashionistas, which has formal dresses, wedding & bridesmaids dresses and accessories, anything related to formal attire.

In less than a week I managed to buy a lamp, two chairs, a bed frame, a pair of flower pots and other items for the house. There are all kinds of interesting, eclectic items for the home. And every once in a while, you'll find something that would be hard to find, like a Les Paul-style guitar, complete with an amp and (my favorite part) a coffin shaped case!

Facebook, Abilenee Swap Meet
Facebook, Abilenee Swap Meet
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And there's no telling what else will be posted by the end of the day. If you take a lot of trips to the beach, you can get a great deal on transportation from the swap meet site (you'll just need to fix the flat):

Facebook, Abilenee Swap Meet
Facebook, Abilenee Swap Meet
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But it's not all buy buy buy for me. I have also managed to sell a few items that we've been trying to get rid of in three yard sales, but have failed. An old kitchen table, a wall decoration, and a headboard that few people inquired about while it sat in my yard sales time and again.

I'm so glad to see that stuff go. I think as long as I adopt a couple simple rules to hold this obsession in check, I think Abilenee Swap Meet can be a positive addition to my life. I suggest that anyone who joins this group, or others like it (Abilene CraigsList, Abilene ebay, etc.) keep a separate budget for swapping, where only money made selling items can be used to buy more stuff. This keeps the financial aspect contained, and keeps you from being featured on a future episode of "Hoarders". You can also adopt the "one in, one out" strategy, where if you buy something, you have to get rid of something in return. These are just a couple things to think about if you notice your swapping habit getting out of hand.

One other important word of caution: There are bad people out there. Be safe when going to look at something you're interested in buying. Let someone know where you're going, and don't hesitate to turn around and leave if you don't feel comfortable in a situation.

Are you a member of Abilenee Swap Meet? How do you feel about buying and selling on websites like this?

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