Time to wrap yourself in the cocoon of winter, stay warm and make your home a haven. Slow cooked meals and keeping the family warm and healthy are the top priorities at this time of year.

The pace of life seems slower as we hide away at home but as all parents know, this is only an illusion. The end of Term 2 and the beginning of Term 3 are actually the busiest time of the school year.

Assignments need to be done, music exams need to be attempted and for many of us who have kids involved in club sporting teams the games continue throughout the chilly June/July holiday period.

Have you checked the kids’ wardrobes to make sure they have all the items they need to stay warm and cosy? Not only do they need jumpers and blazers for school but they also need tracksuits, fleecies and warm shirts for sport. If you need any items then check our site, www.schoolxchange.com.au.

Kids really do have a tough time trying to stay warm and dry during winter don’t they? For sport they are out in all types of weather, especially the boys and girls who play rugby, netball, hockey or soccer. Travelling to and from school on public transport means kids often arrive home cold and wet. It can be particularly tough for senior students who are struggling to meet the demands of rigorous study and exam schedules. Getting the uniforms washed and dry for the next round can be a challenge for parents- especially if you are trying to juggle work as well.

Have you thought about having a spare set of uniforms for the emergency days when you just can’t get everything dry in time for school or the game? Second hand uniforms can be very handy in this situation. Having a spare set that hasn’t cost the earth can make life a whole lot easier. Just check out our site www.schoolxchange.com.au to see if there are any items you can pick up for a bargain.

With the school holidays just around the corner it’s a good time to think about selling the items your kids have outgrown or no longer need. It’s also a fantastic way to recoup some of the money you have spent on these expensive items. The money can then be used for the new or second hand items you need to buy to keep the kids outfitted.

Are you going to the ski fields this winter? You can be certain that your children will have grown since last season and chances are, you’ve probably only had a few weeks wear out of them. So why not list any gear you don’t need, ski pants, jackets, boots, gloves… the list goes on and on!

How do you list the items you would like to sell? Just register at www.schoolxchange.com.au. You’ll need a credit card or Paypal account as you need to pay a small listing fee of 10%. (Less for more expensive items) Follow the prompts on our website and you are all set to go. It is really easy and your details are always kept confidential.

The great feature of our site is that your ad remains online until you sell the item you’ve listed, there are no time limits or repeat fees. And don’t forget that you can also sell and buy textbooks, musical instruments, hiking gear and sporting goods as well. We plan to keep expanding our site to meet your requirements.

If you have any thoughts you would like to share with me then you can contact me through our website or you can become a guest blogger… so let me know what you think…

Keep warm!

Bye for now,

Claire.

Term 1 is already over and we can all breathe a sigh of relief now our kids have settled back into school routines.

Are you new to our site? Then I would like to say a huge welcome!

Term 1 was an incredibly busy time both for www.schoolxchange.com.au and for me personally. Parents were busy buying and selling on the site as they were getting organised for the new school year and I was flat out coordinating the marketing and promotion of the site as well as answering enquiries, making sure all our customers were happy.

What a hectic January and February I had! I was of course, very excited about appearing on Channel 9’s Today Show and about being interviewed on several radio stations. Our site was temporarily overwhelmed by the huge demand and we suffered some brief delays due to the huge amount of traffic. This was unavoidable and as you are probably aware, the same fate that affected the launch of the controversial MySchool website recently.Things quickly returned to normal once the jam subsided and the small hiccup was well worth it giving us national exposure, thousands of new listings and hundreds of new, registered users. www.schoolxchange now has listings for schools and communities all over Australia.

But just when we thought we could relax a little, it’s time to get organised again. With the days getting cooler and shorter, it’s time to shake out the winter woollies and sort through winter uniforms and sports gear. Chances are, your winter uniforms from last year are too small, so why not list them as there are plenty of eager buyers looking for a bargain.

Don’t forget to check the sport uniforms and equipment as well. The kids have probably either outgrown these or even changed sports and you don’t want to be left with lots of unwanted items. We also have parents who are looking for cadet uniforms, camping gear and hiking boots, so if your child no longer needs these, they can be listed as well.

How do you advertise your items? Easy! Log onto www.schoolxchange.com.au register and list the items you want to sell. We’re cheaper than other online selling sites and the only site dedicated to serving Australia’s school community.

Sellers have a huge advantage when they advertise with us because buyers have the option of viewing all the items that you are selling. Buyers simply click on “view details” for an item and then “view all items for sale by this seller.” This means buyers save time and the seller can sell more items in a single transaction. So if you’ve visited or bought items using our site but haven’t advertised before, why not give it a go! You have nothing to lose but plenty to gain.

Don’t forget you can contact me through our website and  you can even share your ideas as a guest blogger.

Keep warm and cosy this autumn!

Claire.

I’ve been feeling guilty about taking so long to post this (my 2nd blog) as I have learnt that regular blogging is a must for any website. I know, procrastination is the thief of time, but can I blame the excessive amount of homework I’ve had to do this term? I’m now an expert on the effects of the economic downturn and Hamlet. Can’t be all bad!

The good news is that we’ve finally passed the half way mark with winter and we’re now  counting down to warmer weather. But that doesn’t mean we won’t be needing those warm jumpers and fleecy tops for a while. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security though. Just when you think it’s warming up, along comes another cold snap making us grab them out of the wardrobe again - it happens every year!

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