Going nuts on the swaps

[Daiyuflower]

I put a lot of time and effort into my boxes, but the thing is, for most swaps, the dollar amount list is a minimum.  I don't think there's anything wrong with going over on extras once you've reached the dollar amount on ponies.  I just wanted to put together a really special box because it makes me happy, and hopefully my partner will be happy as well. 

[lovesbabysquirmy]

I have a limited budget so I try to be as creative as possible.  Ribbon goes a long way, especially when it's fabric so it can be used on ponies!  I have bought things on clearance and held onto them for a year in order to have the right themed things for a swap.  I have bought candy on sale just because I knew I would need it later.  I always keep an eye out for cute goodies at stores year-round.  I try to buy tea in foil-sealed pouches instead of the paper packaging so that I can toss in a few when I send things to people.  I have a whole basket of things I add to throughout the year and then it makes swaps much easier...  I probably got this habit from my mom.  She and I would buy baby clothes and whatnot from the clearance racks and therefore, whenever there was a baby shower, we'd just open up the "presents tub" and pick out whatever fit the family's needs best. 

I don't have Paypal so I can't buy people ponies from their wishlist - I send out ones from my collection.    This makes the number of swaps I can join very limited, but I do try to have fun with it when I can.  I went a little over  budget on my last swap but the book was perfect for my partner's interests and I didn't include as much candy as I might have otherwise... 

[Yurusumaji]

I have a limited budget so I try to be as creative as possible.  Ribbon goes a long way, especially when it's fabric so it can be used on ponies!  I have bought things on clearance and held onto them for a year in order to have the right themed things for a swap.  I have bought candy on sale just because I knew I would need it later.  I always keep an eye out for cute goodies at stores year-round.  I try to buy tea in foil-sealed pouches instead of the paper packaging so that I can toss in a few when I send things to people.  I have a whole basket of things I add to throughout the year and then it makes swaps much easier...  I probably got this habit from my mom.  She and I would buy baby clothes and whatnot from the clearance racks and therefore, whenever there was a baby shower, we'd just open up the "presents tub" and pick out whatever fit the family's needs best.

That's pretty ingenious.

[scarletjul]

In the few swaps I've entered, my budget has honestly been all over the place.  I can always spend the minimum but I max out depending on how much I'm working, how much debt I'm paying off, etc.  I remember one swap I entered, my extras weren't big - I know I added ribbon and some cute cheap-ish extras and that was it.  But the box I got was so lovely and so full of stuff that the next swap I entered, I made sure I had more extra cash to spend and I bought a bunch of extras.  I love buying gifts, so honestly that was part of the fun.  And in both cases, I was able to pull at least one pony from my an ollections, so I think that helped. 

I don't think it matters how many extras you put in, as long as it shows that you put some thought into the swap.  People will understand that we're all under different budgets and not everyone can afford to buy a whole bunch of stuff.  Otherwise, I would just suggest getting creative, checking dollar stores, clearance racks and just seeing what you can find.  But keep in mind that the swap is supposed to be fun - so I wouldn't worry that much about the extras, as long as you show thoughtfulness. 

[lovesbabysquirmy]

That's pretty ingenious.

Thank you!  It's really fun when I do get to participate in them, though my budget is pretty much one a year - for now.  ;D

[stopxmotion]

I have a limited budget so I try to be as creative as possible.  Ribbon goes a long way, especially when it's fabric so it can be used on ponies!  I have bought things on clearance and held onto them for a year in order to have the right themed things for a swap.  I have bought candy on sale just because I knew I would need it later.  I always keep an eye out for cute goodies at stores year-round.  I try to buy tea in foil-sealed pouches instead of the paper packaging so that I can toss in a few when I send things to people.  I have a whole basket of things I add to throughout the year and then it makes swaps much easier...  I probably got this habit from my mom.  She and I would buy baby clothes and whatnot from the clearance racks and therefore, whenever there was a baby shower, we'd just open up the "presents tub" and pick out whatever fit the family's needs best.   

I do this too! I also picked it up from my mom. The only difference is she tends to lose the things that she buys lol! She'll be like "Remember that thing I bought last summer..?" Or she find it years later, after completely forgetting about it. I've gotten old christmas and birthday gifts that she found hidden in her closet before..

[Lorelei Redfern]

I do this too! I also picked it up from my mom. The only difference is she tends to lose the things that she buys lol! She'll be like "Remember that thing I bought last summer..?" Or she find it years later, after completely forgetting about it. I've gotten old christmas and birthday gifts that she found hidden in her closet before..

my mom does this too! shes liek i got you soemthign a nd i forgot where i put it.. lol

[True]

Eh *hides* I'm guilty of over spending xD I pretty much ignore the spending limit, I don't even know how many times over I whent on my last swap.

But I think if you really didn't feel comfortable getting a severely over budget box when you planned on staying within budget, I'm sure if you just mentioned someplace that you preferred you're partner to stay inside budget they would understand.

[Tribble79]

Maybe if you are going to go overboard on the extras in a swap, a separate box could be send to your partner. Of course if you are sending to other countries where shipping is expensive, it might not be such a good idea... I wonder if a note could be included on what not to include in the brag thread, and a thank you pm could cover this.... Just so participants don't feel the pressure to spend over the min to spend if they can't afford it.

[gemini_pony]

Yeah I know what you mean
I'd love to do my first custom in a swap (I know it wouldn't be great)
But if I get tons of stuff and I only send out a pony and a few things I'd feel bad
My family's budget's getting low due to the fact we have so much to do around the house
to fix up. So I don't know. 

I send extras when I can! But I don't think anyone should feel bad for not adding them..I have gotten both in custom swap awesome extras and ones with nothing but a note. I loved all equally! I understand if you can not add extras and I think most people feel the same ;3

[ChipsteRJ]

Budgets are difficult to stick to.

I'm an accessory lover- you tell me you are too? You get a huge ginormous box of goodies. You don't collect accessories. You get puny box box still fitting the requirements,  but honestly sometimes it embarrasses me...

This army swap is killing me. My partner's pony should NOT cost more than $10 I have yet to find one sell for under the $9 mark. There are 3 listed at over $17 each... I still have 1 month left, but I'm pretty disappointed in the box I have so far.

Basically if the pony I need is already in the trade box I count it "extra" in my own mind and still go out shopping for my partner, so sometimes my boxes are over done other times they are spot on.

[xkelpiex]

I'm someone who overspends on swaps. I have a hard time finding inexpensive ponies, and then I just have to buy everything I see for extras lol BUT, I don;t expect a huge box in return. If you stick to the budget, but put your heart into it, your partner should not be disappointed!
And as an aftersay, I hope a new swap opens soon!

[kissthethunder]

I'll be honest.

The last swap I was in? I was very thrifty. I had a huge box packed full, but I read my partners list thoroughly before shopping, and I went to places where I knew I could get awesome stuff for good deals. It looked like I spent a ton, but in reality, I just knew how and where to spend

DOn't judge a book-er, swap box, by appearances, people may have spent less than you think they did!

[Marigold]

Okay, so now I have to worry both about my box being good enough and it being too good.   Can't win. 

[Shenanigans]

I just participated in my first swap and I'll admit I did go overboard. But I didn't do it to make people feel bad I wanted my first experience to be grand and to make my partner so very happy. I'm like that IRL... I love to give presents to people and make people happy. I've not received my box from my partner, but I don't expect him/her to go above and beyond. It's something *I* wanted to do for my partner and I had a ton of fun buying for her and picking things out, wanting to make her happy. I don't see swaps as a competition on who can give the biggest boxes... We have a budget for a reason and I don't think anyone would expect someone else to go way over budget for them. I don't expect it anyway. I'm thrilled to see all the boxes and to get to know everyone in the swap. I just like to give.