April 2016 Moms
randilea0110
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Anyone Else Going the Cheap Route?
randilea0110
member
After looking through the posts on diaper bags and strollers I am left feeling like a cheapskate! I have been scouring the internet for deals, talking with friends and my husbands coworkers to get hand me downs, and meeting up with strangers from Craigslist on a weekly basis to line up the cheapest baby items possible.
I have 2 giant diaper boxes full of newborn and 0-3 clothing and some newborn disposable diapers that came from one of my husbands coworkers. Most of the clothes are for a boy and we are team green so they may or may not work out, but quite a few of them will work for a girl or a boy and who says little girls can't wear trains and dragons sleepers? The same coworker is going to give us a couple boxes of 3-6 mo clothing as well once her grandson grows out of it. I also got our crib, a baby monitor, a bassinet, and a stroller all for free. They were all items that my brother and SIL were going to either throw away or simply leave at their last house when they moved so I scooped them up (with their permission of course).
I found and purchased a closed system breast pump for $20 from a woman on craigslist. She quit pumping day 2 after returning to work because she was already supplementing with formula and didn't want to be hooked to a pump 3 times a day, so it has run less than 2 hours. The personal accessories kit runs anywhere between $40 and $60 but for $80 I essentially have a brand new pump. I also bought a solid oak highchair for $50 that is in perfect condition. I bought it from grandparents that said they bought it new and had used it when their grandson was over a handful of times.
I was also just looking at Amazon and found the car seat that goes with the stroller I already have for $81 through Amazon Warehouse. It's $20 cheaper because the box has been damaged, but the seat is in perfect condition. In case I do find a problem with it, they offer free returns so how can I go wrong?
Does anyone else have any websites or places they like to go to find good used baby items? I am all about getting by as cheap as possible and love finding good deals!
I have 2 giant diaper boxes full of newborn and 0-3 clothing and some newborn disposable diapers that came from one of my husbands coworkers. Most of the clothes are for a boy and we are team green so they may or may not work out, but quite a few of them will work for a girl or a boy and who says little girls can't wear trains and dragons sleepers? The same coworker is going to give us a couple boxes of 3-6 mo clothing as well once her grandson grows out of it. I also got our crib, a baby monitor, a bassinet, and a stroller all for free. They were all items that my brother and SIL were going to either throw away or simply leave at their last house when they moved so I scooped them up (with their permission of course).
I found and purchased a closed system breast pump for $20 from a woman on craigslist. She quit pumping day 2 after returning to work because she was already supplementing with formula and didn't want to be hooked to a pump 3 times a day, so it has run less than 2 hours. The personal accessories kit runs anywhere between $40 and $60 but for $80 I essentially have a brand new pump. I also bought a solid oak highchair for $50 that is in perfect condition. I bought it from grandparents that said they bought it new and had used it when their grandson was over a handful of times.
I was also just looking at Amazon and found the car seat that goes with the stroller I already have for $81 through Amazon Warehouse. It's $20 cheaper because the box has been damaged, but the seat is in perfect condition. In case I do find a problem with it, they offer free returns so how can I go wrong?
Does anyone else have any websites or places they like to go to find good used baby items? I am all about getting by as cheap as possible and love finding good deals!
Re: Anyone Else Going the Cheap Route?
Also found a Philips Avent unused breast pump for less than half the price of a new that my sister gifted me and bought new mattresses and blankets and bed sheet during the after Christmas sales we had here where everything was for half the price. Shops here gift you a pack of diapers and other baby items when you tell them you're pregnant and I've managed to collect around 10 big packs of diapers in two sizes, baby shampoo and lotions, pacifiers, bottles, onesies, toys, wet wipes etc from those boxes.
Now I'm on the hunt for a used stroller
Sounds like you've found some great deals!
I've personally been searching Craigslist for a nice rocking chair. I would like one for BFing and helping put LO to sleep
If you are handy, I suggest Pinterest for ideas on what you can make LO. I'm using today to scout good deals on materials for things like swaddle blankets and crib sheets, because Most places have great end-of-year deals. Craigslist is good for things like strollers and high chairs that you can really get your hands on and ensure their safety, but I always take DH with me to meet people because my city is a bit unsafe. Look into blogs on diaper stockpiling and scour thrift stores, garage sales, and flea markets if your area offers any.
Me- 25,DH-28
Other than that, I'm mostly just waiting to see what I get from the shower.
Again my sister just had her son this past April and she has already loaned me some stuff- momaroo, bassinet etc.
I saw "going the cheap route" for the title and I was thinking to myself this is so me! I love deals and while I'm not an avid coupon fan, I still clip them. Anywhere I'm saving money I'm doing it. The crib I have for my 2 year old was a gift from MH's family, and this Christmas I got her a Bubble Guppies toddler bed for $20 brand new from a deal from Toys R Us! I'm also happy she's a Bubble Guppies fan so she loves her new bed. I've got most of her clothes from Once Upon a Child because she outgrows things FAST. Otherwise they're Garanimals (lol) or Circo from Target. I only keep 1 pair of shoes for her because she's only in them for a month before she grows out of them. I'm on the local B/S/T sites on facebook so I always keep an eye out for baby clothes that are sold cheap by the lot that people are just looking to get rid of. I was given a diaper bag from DD's baby shower more than 2 years ago and it's still holding up quite well. It's a neutral color so I am in no need of another one. My aunt & uncle has a little boy the same age as DD so they said they'd give me all his clothes when he grows out of them.
I did mention in a previous post that I got a travel system for $125 brand new from Walmart. It was DD's but I got it in neutral color in case I have another kid and it would be a boy, which happens to be the case. So I already have an infant car seat. We already have two convertible car seats, was going to be one for each car because installing the car seat whenever we're switching vehicles is a PITA. I got my car seats for $25 each brand new from a car seat safety program at our clinic. They have a grant funded program where you attend an educational session on how to properly install the car seat and how to properly strap in baby and they will install the car seat and at that time you pay $25 for the seat.
I like looking for ways to save money - I think it's fun. It's almost like a hobby. I like going to Goodwill and Dollar Tree, but most of the time I don't come out with anything because I can't justify I'll actually use it. However I do find quite a bit of good storage organization things there which helps keeping my toddler organized. I'm also teaching my 17 year old ways to save money and the value of a dollar and I think it's neat she's taking an interest to it.
It's a boy! Grow baby, grow! EDD: 4/22/2016
I also have a nice Fisher Price Cradle Swing my aunt gave me that her sister gave her. It's really nice and DD loved it. I saved it so DS will be in it too. It's pink though. He won't mind.
It's a boy! Grow baby, grow! EDD: 4/22/2016
For one, I purchased my crib used - granted, it was $500 and originally a $1600 crib, it was just the one I wanted.
As for the rest of the nursery furniture, other than a glider we've re-purposed everything. My husband made the changing pad frame and we're using an old refinished desk for the table. The children's armoire was an antique my sister refinished for me. Other than decorative pieces, we haven't had to purchase furniture items that will be obsolete once he's a toddler.
Once we have our baby shower and see what we get as gifts, anything else we might need to purchase will probably be purchased through a child resale store unless it's something we'd rather not have pre-owned.
If you want another place to buy stuff look for a local moms resale page on Facebook. I love the one I'm in and I used it a lot for DS and getting the best deals.
I'm going super cheap and just reusing all of my stuff from DS1, since the boys won't even be 2 years apart when LO is born.
It's a boy! Grow baby, grow! EDD: 4/22/2016
https://store.hygeiahealth.com/Double-Electric-Pumps-Breast-Pumps/b/10668388011?ie=UTF8&title=Double+Electric+Pumps
Now, don't get me wrong, I totally understand how some people still may not be comfortable using a used breast pump, and to each their own, but this was the best option for me. Yes, I do have insurance, but they will only cover a manual pump (because as I recently found out my insurance company apparently hates and doesn't want to pay for babies) and I don't have the time or the hand strength to use a manual pump every single day. I also didn't want to spend the $300 on a new Medela pump but I would have purchased the used pump that I bought brand new for the same $300 because I could have at least recouped some of our money when I was done with it...assuming it was still working properly.
I also agree that you should always check for recalls and any issues with used items that can be a safety concern. Since I can't ensure the safety of used car seats I will be buying that new although there is a small hole in the box which is saving me some money on that. I am also insisting that my parents buy a new crib mattress because I don't need any creepy crawlies in LO's mattress nor do I need a dirty mattress in my home. It just grosses me out.
Thank you all for your responses though! I'm happy to see that I'm not the only cheapskate/thrifter/penny pincher in the group!