For those on a budget who don't want to sacrifice the small joys, here are three Web sites that allow you to trade your gently used items for someone else's treasures:

• Paperbackswap.com. Registration is free. Any book you choose will be shipped to you free of charge, but you pay to ship your books to fellow readers.

• Swapstyle.com. Members can log on to swap, buy or sell clothing to fellow clotheshorses. The membership will run you $19.95 a year. Swappers are responsible for paying postage.

• Eswapnow.com. Gamers, music lovers and movie hounds might find what they're after at Eswapnow.com. Registration is free, and all traders pay for is postage, unless they choose to buy extra credits.

MCT