Bingo Lovers Are Opting To Swish and Save

Clothes-swapping parties are becoming really popular with bingo beauties across the UK

Buying a new dress at the moment can seem like a big expense, even if you can spend your winnings on it.

With money a bit tight, we're all looking for ways to get the most out of our cash. That's why "swishing" parties are becoming really popular with women across the UK.

These gatherings involve women getting together, bringing items from their wardrobe that they can't fit into or no longer wear and swapping them with their friends.

"I think people have realised that they can work like that amongst their friends - it's a really fabulous night," says Clare O'Brien, co-founder of Makeitandmendit.com, a website which aims to help people make small changes in their lives so that they can improve their finances and the way they feel.

"It's a great social event that means that clothes are being re-circulated," she adds.

A recent poll by Weightwatchers found that the average British woman owns £259.20 worth of clothes that they cannot fit into, meaning there are around £5 billion of items shoved at the back of wardrobes which are not being worn.

With this in mind, it is no wonder swishing parties are becoming popular. In fact, the BBC devoted a whole TV programme to the phenomenon, Twiggy's Fashion Exchange, hosted by the style icon herself.

Clare says that it is now acceptable to wear other people's unwanted items.

"The big stigma has been lifted from the whole area of second-hand clothing, so a lot more people are happy to wear second-hand clothes these days," she explains.

Aside from the fact that you can get a great new dress or jacket absolutely free, swishing parties are great fun and a good excuse to get the girls round for a night in that won't cost you much.

So why not combine swishing with an online bingo party to spice things up a bit and add to the fun? Get the wine and nibbles in and swap til you drop with the added excitement of playing for bingo prizes.

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