Books that you've read.  Unused gift cards.  Don't let stuff like that clutter up your house.  We don't!.   Instepad, we use sites to trade something we don't want for something we really do want.  I've looked carefully at each of these sites to make sure they have a clean record with the BBB, as well as compling with disclosure guidelines.  In addition to the sites I speak about, don't skip Freecycle.org, where you can give away unwanted furniture, cars -- you name it -- and get other people's castoffs free.

  Swaptree.com   This site is best for swapping books, CDs, movies, and video games.   Post what you want and what you want to get rid of; the site matches you with potential traders.  We love the simple shipping - print postage right from the site (usually $2.50 or less).  I recently found copies of the best-selling Twilight books and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith for Xbox 360.  Lon on Mondays for a big selection.

 U-Exchange.com    Best for Bartering goods and services.  This free site is all about the swap, whether you're offering a professional skill or a personal service, or looking for a sailboat.  I noticed a woman in Ohio offered a home paint job in exchange for a love seat.  You can get the most out of U-Exchange by treating it like a dating site:  Post photos and give lots of details.  See something you need?  Ask what the poster wants.

GIFTCARDRESCUE.COM

Best for trading gift cards you don't want for those you do.  Exchange cards (as long as they're for a value of $20 or more) or buy cards at up to 35% off.

HOMEEXCHANGE.COM

Best for Vacation Trades

You can switch homes with someone who needs a vacation as badly as you and me do.  It's $99.95 a year to list your place, but you get unlimited free exchanges in places where the locals live, not in a pricey tourist trap.  I found listings in the U.S. and more than 120 countries.   TIP:  Sign up for the "Notify me" feature to get e-mails about postings in cities you'd like to visit.

A SAFER TAN    ** Are the self-tanning lotions available in stores safe to use?

Yes, they appear to be safe, says Ronni Sandroff, editor of the Consumer Reports on Health.  The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a color-inducing chemical ingredient in self-tanning lotions called dihydroxyacetone (DHA).  It makes you look tan by reacting with proteins in your skin to create a brownish pigment.  The color usually lasts two to five days, wearing off as you naturally shed the darkened outer skin cells.  That's why shaving and exfoliating can make a self-tan disappear more quickly.  Though a few test-tube studies have suggested that DHA might cause cell damage, Consumer Reports did not find any human studies examining that risk, and DHA has been used in the U.S. for more than 40 years with no major ill effects reported.  One caution:  The spray mists used in tanning salons aren't approved by the FDA.  That doesn't mean they're dangerous, just that they haven't been studied.