Have a Trash to Treasure Party – the idea of this fun day is to get rid of stuff you don't want, snag some new (well, new to you) stuff and have the satisfaction of knowing your old possessions will be in the possession of someone who will enjoy them!

Start by sending out invitations to friends on, what else?, junk mail (write the party info on the back of recycled junk mail!). Ask friends to bring stuff they no longer want – books, CDs, DVDs, clothes, shoes, jewelry, hats, scarves, magazines, craft goodies, toys, bags, stuffed animals, anything someone else might want – to the party.

Once everyone arrives, have them line up their unwanted goodies (plus stuff you want to trade) in a big circle in the middle of the floor. Everyone stands in a circle. Go around the circle, with each person allowed to pick one item from the pile (pick numbers from a hat to see who goes first). Once everyone has gone twice, have them stash their newfound treasures in another room.

Now the really fun part: everyone puts price tags on the remaining goodies, sets them up on tables in your front yard or garage and waits for the customers to come to your very own yard sale! You can all split the profits, or agree to donate them all to a great charity!

Pre-party preparations: find out if there are local newspapers that let you run free yard sale notices, and put up signs around your neighborhood and at the supermarket; make sure you have plenty of cold drinks on hand (fill a large bucket with ice and load it up with cans of soda and juice) 'cause it gets hot out there (and, you can sell them for a whole lot more than you paid for 'em!)