Financial Planning Question

bumpuser2548131 · January 2010

So, my hubby and I are trying to plan ahead, financially, by buying baby items slowly. Like, buy a crib one month. Then a bassinet another month. Breast pump another month. Etc. Etc. We just want to buy and pay off the big ticket items slowly.

My question is: What if people like family wanted to help buy things like this? Or, do family and friends at showers ever go together to purchase big ticket items?

I'm the first friend in my peer group and the first woman in my family (of this generation) to have a baby, so I am really clueless as to shower protocol.

Any thoughts?

RoxyLynn · January 2010

You and your DH are being very smart about this. As a general rule, plan to buy everything you need, and anything someone else decides to buy is a welcome bonus.

Gift-buying varies widely by culture, part of the country, income level, etc. I wish I had a better guideline for you...

kilissa · January 2010

It's typically the parent's responsibility to buy the baby furniture unless someone explicitly tells you that they are going to buy it for you. However, I wouldn't count on that. I think you should go ahead with your plan of buying big items. There will still be plenty of things that can be gifted for you. Maybe wait on things like the stroller, play mats, etc. I would definitely buy your own breast pump - that would be a weird gift for someone to get you.

bumpuser2548131 · January 2010

Thanks for the words of wisdom! That's what I figured.

megann831 · January 2010

my parents got us our crib, his parents got us our jogging stroller, from my registry a car seat, high chair, pack n play, bedding set, swing, jumper, and monitor are all gone. These are all $100+ items, I figured people would chip in on things, but not like this. I think I still have atleast 2 weeks before my shower and I only have 1 thing left that's $100 and 2 things that are around $50.

I would register for everything you want when the time gets closer, then if you don't get it use the completion coupon and register for the credit card which will give you an extra discount and usually you can get the 1st 6 months or year w/out interest

megann831 · January 2010

BTW, people will probably give you gift cards too, my friend said you can count on about $300 worth, I think that sounds really high, but who knows

amberfernandez · January 2010

Once we decided we were adopting, before we were matched, we started putting aside the amount of money we would eventually spend on daycare each month into a savings account, then started buying the big stuff. This worked very well for us, and I saved money by getting the furniture on Craig's list, and everything on sale.

You have time, so watch ads and spend wisely. You'll save much more than if you wait until the last minute and buy everything at once.

Good luck!

bumpuser2548131 · January 2010

Wow, these are some great additional ideas. You've given me a lot to think about....

BarbieNCSU · January 2010

Since my wedding most of my bridesmaids have had children so I have been going to showers non stop for the past two years. In my experience from other peoples showers most of the big ticket items were purchased by family and a couple friends going in on big gifts together.

For us personally my parents have been buying non stop - they bought our pack and play, changing table, armoire, dresser, and two car seats (one that they will use.) My sister bought our swing. My in laws purchased our high chair and they also gave a $500 gift card just for the baby for Christmas. Then my grandmother purchased our crib, bath tub, and everything to go with the bath tub. We did buy our own stroller because I didn't want anyone to pay $700 for it, but then I was able to find it half off which was a pleasant suprise. So really I think the only other bigger ticket items left our the mattress, bedding, and exersaucer thing.

I would agree with some of the other posters though - try to financially plan out then you will always have a bit of money saved up for which you can either use for diapers/formula/etc. or put away in savings. I am constantly looking at Target because any online orders that are returned automatically have to be marked 75% or more off since there is no place for them in the store. Recently I got a Baby Trend Infant Car Seat for $17, a Peg Perego Double Aria Stroller for $32, Aiden and Anais Burpie Bib for $1.56, and a Trend Lab Burp Cloth set for $3.00.

hopefulmom · January 2010

Since my DD didn't have her shower until after the baby was born she had to have some of the big ticket items (plus our family and her friends are not large ticket items types). They bought the crib, bedding, rocking chair, car seat combo and a few other things before the baby was born. Fortuantely, she got several gift cards and also returned some items so was able to purchase everything else she needed.

You are having your shower before your LO is born so it would be wise to set aside money for those big ticket items. You might want to hold off purchasing them if you think your friends and family normally purchase big ticket items. You can always buy them afterwards. If there is something you know is being discontinued then get it ahead of time because by the time your shower rolls around it may not be available. That is one reason why my DD purchased the bedding, curtains, etc.

DaniLovesPink · January 2010

Sometimes people will buy big ticket items for a shower (we received our stroller [$200], swing [$150], car seat [$130] and high chair [ $100]) at our baby shower. However, I think this is pretty rare. What I would advise doing is buying the things now, slowly. That is about the best idea I've heard. Do not register for these items. Register only for what you need. People may give you money, which you can put towards paying off these items, or buying some things you haven't yet purchased. I think you are doing yourself a great service by planning this way and not relying, like so many other people do, on shower guests to foot the bill.

ocho2002 · January 2010

Register for everything you want - save your money each month for an item like you're doing, but wait to buy. Most stores have completion discounts of at least 10%, every penny counts, especially on big items. My mom bought our furniture so I didn't register for that. I knew no one would buy our glider b/c it was $500 so I put it on the registry the night before so I could get the completion discount but guests wouldn't see it. Some of my friends and family chipped in on bigger items. like out travel system, PNP, car seats. We also got about $700 in gift cards.

ocho2002 · January 2010

Oh, BTW, I don't think its weird to register for breast feeding items. Its not porn, its nature's way of feeding a baby. If it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it, but most people think nothing of it. Some people are just backward prudes.

bliss611 · January 2010

I'm having 2 big showers fairly early (28 and 31 weeks). So I registered for everything I wanted.

We've been slowly saving up for the big stuff but I won't buy anything until after the showers. That way, I can use the $$ I've saved for whatever I did not get - big or small.

lpstl · January 2010

I'd register for everything you want, set aside money to pay for everything, but wait until after your shower to buy anything. You might be surprised by how many big ticket items are purchased. We've had family purchase our dresser, crib, and changing table.

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