16 May 2014

Go Thrifty When Buying for your new Baby


If you are a first-time parent, you will more than likely want everything brand new for baby, I know I did. However, if you are a first time parent there is also a great chance that you are looking to save money, as well.

Going thrifty doesn't mean you love your baby any less; it just means that you are financially wise and realize that baby will grow out of just about everything before you have even paid your credit card bill.

Consignment shops are a great place to buy gently used baby goods. The majority of consignment shops will not buy anything unless it is in good condition. These shops will offer you designer clothing, layettes, furniture and baby gear for a fraction of the cost of new.

Once you realize how quickly your baby will grow, you won't mind shopping in a consignment store at all. You can buy the most adorable layout and outfits in size 0000 up for cents on the dollar compared to new. Your baby will look adorable and you'll be smiling from ear to ear at the savings you have made.

You can find some very basic items at garage sales for too. When Disaster Struck and we had a baby on the way and absolutely no spare money, one of the first things I learned to do was shop at garage sales for the children's clothes. I picked garage sales in the more affluent suburbs, set a budget of no more than $1 per outfit and off I'd go. I picked up Peter Rabbit, Fred Bare, Pumpkin Patch and other "designer" labels for between 50 cents and $1 each. Some of them were brand new, still had the labels attached.

If you find a sale with a lot of things you want to buy, don't forget to haggle. Offer to buy them all for a fixed amount rather than as individual items. Chances are you'll get a real bargain and the seller will be glad to not have anything left at the end of the day.

Toys are a big seller at garage sales and usually all that needs to be done is a good soak and washing and baby will have a new musical toy to drift him or her off to sleep or a set of stacking blocks for later on when baby grows bigger. Our Fisher Price farmhouse came from a garage sale for $2. The Micro Machines they boys played with for years (we still have them) cost $2.50 for a shoebox full. Duplo and Lego were my favourite toy buys at garage sales and I never paid more than $5, and that was for a huge bin full of Lego. Hannah's genuine Baby Born cot was $1 at a garage sale. It was a little grimy which is why it was so cheap. We brought it home, carefully took the cover off and soaked it then washed it, washed all the frame, put it back together and it was as good as new.

Books are another favourite garage sale buy. I never paid more than 10 cents for a children's book. I'd buy as many as I could find and put them away for rainy day treats and rewards for good behaviour.

When buying toys, however, make sure not to buy anything will small parts and pieces, especially used. Buy things like building blocks or books so that you know baby will be safe.

Garage sales are also an excellent resource for buying second sets of anything. If you will be returning to work and baby is going to visit Grandma once or twice a week, you can buy a highchair or even a second stroller to leave at Grandma’s so you don't have to lug those things with you every time you visit.

Our twin stroller cost $30 at a garage sale. The spare travel cot was $15.

Another great way to get baby items for free is to barter with someone. You might be looking to pass on your maternity clothing while someone else is looking to get rid of his or her cot or stroller. Bartering is a great way to exchange goods without spending a dime!

Let’s face it; having a baby today is so very expensive. Utilizing consignment shops, garage sales and bartering is a great way to go thrifty when shopping for baby.




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1 comment:

  1. Love this post! My second child is due in a couple of weeks, and I made the decision to buy second hand as much as possible, and not pay full price for anything I had to get new (my first child is almost 7 and we had not kept much other than the cot and change table). Op shops stores, facebook buy sell sites, and garage sales are the way to go - I have saved hundreds - got a capsule which is compatible with my pram for a quarter of the price of a new one, and enough 000 clothing,cot sheets, bassinet sheets etc to see me through first 6 months, for around $80 in total. So wish I had been thrifty with my first child1!

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