Tuesday, 13 January 2009
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Baby On A Budget - Finding Nearly New Items for a Fraction of the Cost
We are having a baby and we live on a tight budget. In today’s economy, I'm sure we are not the only ones. Being that we have nothing left of our first child’s nursery (who will be 14 years old by the time our baby is born), we must start from scratch in building a nursery.
We see no reason why we can’t buy beautiful and safe baby items and save money at the same time. Also, as I began to research ways to build a nursery and prepare for a new baby on a tight budget, I realized that the key method I would be using would also be helpful to the environment. After all, we are moving towards a “reduce, reuse, recycle” society.
So far, I have obtained a beautiful Evenflo Jenny Lind-style crib with mattress (which I plan to upgrade), an infant carrier/stroller combination, the Fisher Price Rainforest theme bouncer and cradle swing, a Graco Pack N Play, a Kolcraft Cuddle N Care bassinet and an Evenflo Comfort Select Dual breast pump.
Retail prices for all these items would be between $500 and $600 dollars depending on where you live and where you shop. I got it all for $175. I also have a few books on my Amazon wish list and plan to buy those used as well, saving even more money.
Everything I have has been checked against manufacturer and government recall lists. Nothing is damaged and nothing is stained. The bassinet and bouncer were in such excellent condition that their boxes and instruction manuals were included. The crib also came with the instruction manual and after careful inspection, I couldn’t even find the usual bite marks one would expect from a used crib. The only wear and tear I could find on any of the items was some marks on the carrier case for the Pack N Play. I would dare anyone to come into my home and find a flaw in these items indicating that they were previously used.
So how did I do it?
The crib and carrier/stroller unit came from Freecyle so all I spent was some change in gas which would have been spent had I bought these items new in a store. The Rainforest bouncer came from Craigslist for just $10. Its matching cradle swing came from Once Upon A Child, a consignment shop for infant and children’s products. They are a nationwide franchise with strict rules on what they can accept and everything must pass the recall/condition muster. The swing was $40. It was missing the AC adapter and one of the mobile animals but I ordered those from the Fisher Price website for $15 dollars (including shipping) giving me a total price for the swing at $55. This may seem like a bit much for a used swing, unless you know what they cost new.
The Pack N Play was my most expensive item at $60, but it was a fancy model with the built in bassinet, vibration, night light, mobile, music, and nature sound features. The bassinet was purchased through an Ebay auction for $30. There was no shipping fee because it was a “pick up only” item. The one brand new item I purchased was the breast pump but I bought on clearance for $35 instead of the regular price of $50.
My mom chipped in over her excitement at finally getting not one but two granddaughters after four grandsons. My sister is also expecting a little girl and just days before I am due. However, my mom is the supreme bargain hunter. She buys everything new but she finds the most incredible deals.
She hit the jackpot with Target’s big baby department clearance sale. She found the most adorable complete crib bedding sets for $22. There is also a matching mobile that was just $7. She found blankets for just a couple of dollars, extra sheets for both the crib and bassinet, as well as onsies for next to nothing. She spent less than $100 on everything, including what she bought for my sister.
We all want the most beautiful and safest items we can find for our babies. Some can afford to go all out and hit up Babies R Us without even looking at price tags. Others are more than happy with buying lower and middle end models at discount stores. Still others find a way to buy exactly what they want at prices they can afford. All are acceptable ways to welcome their darling babies into the world.
Pictures will follow when everything is set up.
Do you enjoy bargain hunting? Where do you find the best deals for baby/children's items?
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About the Author
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- From: mamaelephant
- Name: mamaelephant
- About Me: Hi! I am Mama Elephant and I am both a college student and SAHM to a mischievous teenage son, who happens to have Autism, and an infant daughter. It is a practice in time management. Raising a child with special needs presents challenges disguised as impossibilities as well as rewards beyond the imagination and I write about both.
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Comments (17)
I like Craig's List for big or outdoor toys for my son. I get a lot of hand-me-down clothes from my aunt (her son's 1 1/2 years older than my son) and I love Children's Place for their clearance section. Just today I got 3 shirts and a pair of pants for my son for $14 from there. Love it!
I love CL for unopened formula, and various toys such as outdoor climbers and swing sets. I also got a few Fisher Price plastic toys that I could wash. I have sold some items on there that I found we didn't use enough to justify keeping for the next baby. I also love the Carter's store for clothing, especially sleepers. Hit them up in Dec/Jan and May/Jun/July for their Seasonal Clearances. And they do monthly coupons for $10 or 20% off purchases over $50. Combine that with the clearance or sales and I have recently outfitted my daughter for Winter for under $150 including Snow boots, bibs and snow jacket (those were from walmart and Target on Sale).
Buying used doesn't mean buying Used Up.
I am a *huge* fan of garage sales in terms of finding kids clothes. I have bought a total of 2 new outfits for my babies - one is 3 months old and the other is 15 months. I have a spent a total of about $100-$150 at garage sales, but that's all I've ever spent on them in terms of clothes. We've also gotten a lot of clothes as gifts, too.
The point is that because babies go through sizes so quickly, I didn't want to spend a ton of money on clothes - so this is my solution. In terms of other baby items, we just don't have many, and we were given the rest. No swing, a hand-me-down bouncer, gifted crib, pack-n-play, and car seat.
That's amazing Mama Elephant! How long did it take you to get all of these items? You have no idea how encouraging it is to read a post like this. It's so great that you can get awesome baby items without breaking the bank.
I'm thinking about using that site FreeCycle. Is it only for baby items or all kinds of items?
@eugenia@xanga - Amazingly, it didn't take that long. It probably took about six weeks. I don't think that would be any longer than a parent looking to buy everything new. You budget and buy when you have the money. Even if a parent started halfway through a pregnancy, there would still be PLENTY of time to get what they need.
Freecycle is for everything. My local chapter recently had a man giving away a small sailboat.
I LOVE bargain hunting! We did our entire nursery for less than $400...all the furniture and baby items included. I got the crib for free (bought a new mattress), reused our desk as a big changing table, got a glider rocker on clearance at Walmart and did the bedding with mix-and-match pieces that I found on sale. It's a very charming nursery and I'm proud of saving our family so much money on stuff that she'll outgrow soon anyway. I love consignment stores too. Once she stops using something I can just take it to the consignment store and when it sells I can buy the next thing she needs.
i've checked out CL altho have yet to find anything worth it. i've heard about freecycle, but haven't visited yet. there is a local consignment shop down the street that i got our Exersaucer at. also i got to Goodwill for clothes. if you know what signs of wear and tear to look for and avoid, bargain hunting taks a bit more time but it's better than a bit more money! we also got our son's nursery furniture set for 200. crib, changing table, and dresser. mattress from a friend, cute rug was a gift, and bedding on clearance. the rocker is my one regret, tho. we paid full price (it was cheap) and it's not a very good one. i use it, tho, i don't want to pay for another one. maybe if i find a good deal!
Just another Craigslist, Ebay, garage sale, and consignment/thift/Goodwill store fan here! I bought a Evenflo crib, Graco Pack'n'Play, glider rocker, and changing table for less than $150! All were used, but in good shape. Someone gave me a complete Graco travel system (stroller, carseat, and two carseat bases) that they had found at a garage sale and I received a swing and bouncy seat as baby shower gifts. I also got a good amount of cash, so I splurged, if you wanna call it that, a little more on clothes- well, think of it more of an investment. I bought a lot of Carter's clothes on sale at the local Carter's outlet, as well as the Children's Place outlet. We plan on having several more children so I bought, good-quality, gender-neutral, stuff that you use every day- sleepers (NB and 3-6 mo.), onesies, sweatpants and hoodies, that kind of stuff. Hopefully that will last me a while! But, even though I bought them new, I still got a LOT of clothes for a REALLY good price! Oh yeah, I'm definitely an outlet store fan as well!
Craigslist and freecycle are the best. I paid $35 for the rocker-glider in our nursery and the dresser, crib, changing table and bookcase were all free. I invested another $50 into paint and supplies and ended up with a great matching nursery set that looks like sets that run over $1,200 in stores for under $100!
I need to be more of a bargain hunter. Right now, I want to find a green & brown theme for my son's room. He is two and I think it'll fit with him until he gets up in age. Plus with the brown on the walls (after we move because we live in a rental right now -- no painting), it'll cover up any dirt that he gets on the walls. Plus he seems to like green. The only thing I have had a problem with is trying to find brown sheets -- they don't seem to be anywhere. I found some on Ebay, but they are a little on the expensive side, so I'm still searching.
Good job on the bargain hunting. You did a really good job with finding cheap priced items.
You just reminded me that I needed to check Craigslist for something I've been looking for.... :) Thanks!
I've noticed finding things that have multiple purposes, as well, is amazing. My crib is going to grow into the headboard for the full size bed, after being a toddler bed and daybed..
My friend got me something that's a seat kinda like a bumbo, but also has an activity tray, and can attach to a chair to become a highchair, then later a booster seat.
She's also going to get me a swing. But the seat comes down to be a rocker for the baby, but also has a bar that comes out to make it into a toddler chair. How convenient!!!!
I love finding deals! Especially because the baby's grow so fast and don't use anything for very long. My favorite is Freecycle! I get a ton of clothes, shoes, snowgear, etc and it is all great! Good luck!
You did great! Those are all great places to look, consignment shops, Craigslist, Ebay, garage sales, other friends and relatives hand me downs. It also depends on how far you have to go to get them. Sometimes it may not be worth the gas. Have someone give you a baby shower and that will take care of lots of your needs. Having lots of brothers and sisters and relatives helps to keep baby's clothes stocked. I love sales and bargain hunting. I used cloth diapers to save from having to buy disposable and used disposable only when out. I found they get less diaper rashes when a cloth diaper is used. If you use tissue and a wash cloth and water, it saves you money on expensive baby wipes. Use those only when out and about and for messy jobs.
The only thing I wouldn't buy used is baby board books. Otherwise, I love bargains and getting free things.
New legislation is going to make it more difficult for all of us Moms to provide for our children through thrift, ebay, freecycle, etc. Check it out www.cpsc.gov . In NY they have already signed into law that starting in February all children's clothing, toys, bedding, etc. have to undergo costly lead testing at the expense of the seller (even garage sales, ebay and the like), school, or charitable organization. Any untested items will be considered hazardous waste and have to be destroyed. The testing process destroys fabrics and some other things so that will mean either way thrift stores, preschools, daycares, and others are going to take significant losses. Those who fail to comply will be hit with $100,000.00 fine. So far as far as I know it's just NY state law but several other states are working on passing similar laws soon.
I commend anyone who is willing to spend some time to save money and recycle, good job!
That said, I must also bring up the CPSIA law that will soon (Feb 10) make this sort of thing impossible. It is a NATIONAL law and if people don't make themselves heard it will go into effect and we will all be the worse for it.
Today is the last day you can register and vote on www.change.org to have this be one of 10 things the new president will look at his first day in office. It is currently #6 on the list, every vote counts.
I am not a political activist nut but when I realized how ludicrous and far reaching this law will be I had to get involved. Please, if you have any relationship to a child, believe in recycling, believe in saving money, check this out, just do a search on CPSIA and you will see why so many of us are so concerned about this poorly written law. Write to your representatives, it doesn't take that long and it could save us all a lot of angst.
babys r' us but since im not a mom and i dont have any kids and have never been to that store, i have no idea what im talking about but thats the first thing that came to my mind.
i love bargain shopping though. who doesnt like things for half off.