I remember reading the story of Kyle MacDonald, a Canadian, who started “Craigslist swapping” with a red paperclip (using 14 trades to upgrade from a paperclip to a house).  I thought to myself, could I do this?  And that was all the thought I put into it.  Today, I read yet another success story of how a 17-year-old Californian, Steven Ortiz, used Craigslist to upgrade from an old cell phone to a 2000 Porsche Boxster!

Craigslist is much like a newspaper’s classified section – where people list their unwanted goods in hopes for cash in return.  Online users are taking advantage of sites such as Craigslist and are instead bartering with one another.  And why not?  After all, one man’s trash may be another man’s treasure.

“How did he do this?” is probably the first question that pops to mind.  Each day,  Steven spent five to six hours searching for the right kind of swaps on Craiglist.  It took him two years and 14 trades with items including an iPod touch, various dirt bikes, a MacBook Pro, a golf cart, and a 1975 Ford Bronco.

What’s the lesson to be learned?  The Internet is being used more and more frequently by individuals of all ages as a virtual swap meet – with larger and more rewarding payoffs.