If I have my druthers, I won’t be near any stores on Black Friday. The idea of heading out to Walmart at midnight after Thanksgiving leaves me colder than gravy on a buffet table. I’ll be snug in my bed by then, overdosed on tryptophan and being thankful that I’m not in a big box retailer. Honestly, could someone please explain the appeal of Black Friday?

One antidote to that shopping hysteria (with the attendant traffic, mobs of people fighting over consumer electronics and the circulars that clog my newspaper box all week beforehand) is online swapping. Imagine: You can clear the clutter from your own home and get gift-worthy items in return. Some people might scoff that this is regifting. I say, bring it on.

She also uses paperbackswap.com.