If I were ever to consider internet dating, the "things I like" section of my profile wouldn't have anything about long walks on the beach at sunset (not that I'd say no if any potential suitors were offering, hint, hint). Instead, my "things I like" section would state, in as big and sparkly a font as I could make it, "op shops and flea markets". Anyone who knows me will attest that I'm passionate about hunting for gems in people's junk, and that I loathe spending large sums on anything new that I could get for a few dollars second hand, especially when it comes to fashion. Most of my clothes cost $5 or under. One of my happiest moments as a bargain hunter was when, in a room full of fashion editors wearing the latest Prada and Gucci, style icon Anna Dello Russo complimented me on my $1 flea market earrings. But that's another story.

Like most passions, though, my bargain hunting does have its pitfalls. When things are so cheap, I'm much more likely to buy things that aren't quite right for me in the hope that by some miracle (aka a few stitches here and there and maybe a glue gun and a vat of dye) I'll be able to resurrect them as signature pieces, such as shoes that don't quite fit or a brand new 70s-style denim jacket that simply doesn't go with anything else I own.

These items then inevitably crowd my wardrobe, untouched until I decide to remake them or give them away - or swap them for something better. Next Monday evening, I'll be doing just that at the BMW Edge, where I'll join other women at a National Swap Day event. Across the country, hundreds of women will take part in the organised chaos of a mass clothes swap hosted by The Clothing Exchange. How does it work? Simply bring up to six items that are in good condition but you no longer wear, and you'll receive a button for each piece that you check in. These buttons are then used as currency, allowing you to ''buy'' a piece someone else has donated. It's an ingenious way to stop clothes waste, get something "new" to wear and have fun, and it just happens to take place during Buy Nothing New month. Yes, the whole of October is about stepping off the wheel of mass consumption and sharing, swapping, bartering or buying things second hand. But you don't have to wait for a Clothing Exchange event. Why not get a group of friends or neighbours together with some great clothes, music and yummy nibbles - you could even go for a long walk on the beach at sunset afterwards, if you were so inclined. Sounds like a perfect date to me.