Baby on the cheap

[elessar78]

We have our first baby due in early April, so now we're starting to think about the stuff that we'll need. Any advice on how to save money here and there for the various furniture and other things that a baby will need.

I'm reading a book called "Baby Bargains" right now, so that's the extent of my "cheap baby" (I know that's a contradiction) research.

thanks in advance!

[disneysteve]

YARD SALES!

Did I say that loud enough? Let me say it again.

YARD SALES!

Baby stuff is the one category of merchandise that you can consistently find at yard sales for well below original price and the stuff holds up very well. Pack and play, bassinette, high chair, swing, rocker, toys, clothing, etc. can all be gotten for 10-20% of original price.

And the best thing is that when you are done with it, you can turn around and resell it usually for about what you paid. It is like getting it all for free.

The one thing you should NEVER get used is your carseat. Buy that new.

[elessar78]

ooh that's a good one, DS!

[LivingAlmostLarge]

God let EVERYONE know you are willing to take hand me downs and free second hand stuff!

I did yard sales, but I also have scored big ticket items like a papasan swing, pack and play, car seat and stroller all free from friends. Some I have to return, but some I get to keep. I also got a baby bath tub, swings, etc.

I have honestly not spent more than $20 on stuff for our baby due February. Now I have spent like $300 on birthing classes and will spend another $150 on hypnobirthing class in january. Plus I am buying diapers but that I've been doing on the cheap and trying to buy as much as possible now instead of later.

But actual goods? Well I havea used cosleeper and bassinet and all free clothes. I am eventually going to buy some stuff I figure, but I'm waiting to see what I get from friends.

[PrincessPerky]

Don't...not don't have a kid, don't buy stuff.

Oh sure you will need a few things, but mostly skip the 'stuff'. You need some willing arms, patience, and honestly someone else to cook way more than you need any babything.

Though do buy a new carseat, if you own a car.

I have 4 kids, folk ask what the most useful thing I have (had) for them....it is someone else cooking me dinner, honestly. For two of the kids someone cooked me dinner the week of birth, or dropped of a meal or two, best gift a new mom could hope for.

[MonkeyMama]

Agreed with the above - you will get piles of stuff free, with time. The longer I have kids, and the less I need, the more hand-me-downs I am offered.

Really, all the same rules of frugality apply. Someone gave me some frugal "having a baby" type book when I was first pregnant. (Maybe the same one you have?) I skimmed through it and remember thinking, "That's it?" Shop used? Carefully consider luxuries vs. needs? I don't remember reading anything terribly enlightening.

But, with time, you do realize how amazing the baby stuff resale market is. So much of that stuff is easy to find unused/barely used. & anything you have to buy new, if you use it gently, you'll sell for close to full retail anyway, when you are done. The "stuff" is the cheapest part of having a baby, if you approach it frugally. & most of it is pretty unecessary anyway. I Don't think we bought a fraction of what most our friends/family have. Bottle warmers, wipe warmers, diaper genies, changing tables, etc., etc. You can certainly live well without a lot of the stuff. I never understood why everyone had a deluxe stroller. We opted for something small and compact, and far more functional than anything else our friends ever had.

We got the "best" carseats, but those sold very well in the end. I wouldn't buy one used, but plenty of people are willing to buy used carseats for top dollar. (We actually waited about 6 months to buy a second carseat, for our second car. Stuff like that).

I have seen it mentioned around here before - don't stock up on diapers. I don't know anyone who ended up using the diapers they planned to. Clothe, disposable, brands - whatever you decide - baby has other ideas.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

My best savings tip is that baby really does not need much. So glad I did not even know about most "baby appliances" when mine was born. Don't know how we would have lived with the clutter. BIL gave us a baby monitor though we were living in a three room apartment--really essentially two rooms as there was barely any wall between the two front rooms. I would never have wanted to be so far from my infant that remote monitoring was a good idea. We gave the monitor to someone who lived and parented differently. Gifts like this are one of the reasons there is such second-hand market for baby things. Babies really do get showered with goods, and lots of families find they don't make much use of some of it.

[mom-from-missouri]

Get what you can at thrift stores, garage sales and friends--except get a new car seat

Don't get:
a changing table--its a waste-just use a changing pad or towel to change them on

babytub--use the kitchen sink

baby walker--too many injuries associated with them


Do get:

crib

car seat

high chair

toys

clothes

cloth diapers (I would not buy disposable diapers ahead of time-I have seen too many babies allergic to certain diapers)

stroller

depending on the layout of your home, monitors are nice-I actually used mine more when they were toddlers learning to try and climb out of their cribs or if I went to check the mail or sit on the porch during their nap time

for showers-reqest allergy free lotions and shampoos incase the baby has an allergy you are stuck with ones you can't use

outlet plug covers

bibs

medicine syringe, nasal and ear syringes, baby clippers

bottles if you are not nursing--if you are, just a couple bottles

sippy cups

the plastic chain things--nice to clip a toy to when shopping so they can't throw it on the ground and play the "ought-oh" game

teather

receiving blankets

crib sheets--can make them last longer by getting a couple droolers--it ties across the bed on top the sheet and they spit up on it instead of the sheet. I made mine out of a couple of old towels.

[disneysteve]

babytub--use the kitchen sink

baby walker--too many injuries associated with them

For bathing, the sink isn't practical for many people and at best only works when the baby is really small. We got a foam pad that we sat in the regular bathtub. Put the baby on that while we washed her. It only cost a few dollars.

We didn't have a baby walker because our house isn't laid out in a way that we could use one but I have to say that 99.9% of the injuries associated with them are due to stupidity on the part of the parents. If the kid can roll to a set of stairs, he shouldn't be in a walker.

We got an exersaucer instead and our daughter loved it. We even took it with us when we traveled.

[elessar78]

Thanks for all the advice!

Now running into the issue with doctor bills. I didn't realize that we'd have so many and didn't sign allocate any pre-tax dollars into our Flexible Spending Accounts through work. Any other ideas on how I can save money on the bills? Any way I can deduct them retroactively when I file my taxes in 2010?

Read: we can afford the bills, I'm just trying to save where I can.

[disneysteve]

Medical bills are deductible but I believe they have to exceed a certain percentage of your income.

You should check every bill carefully to make sure it is correct. Get itemized bills for any hospital stays or procedures as errors are common. Ask for discounts wherever possible. When my wife had surgery a few years ago, the hospital gave us a 35% discount just for paying in full up front.

[elessar78]

Discounts? Like I ask the doctor's office before I leave if I can have a discount or do I talk to billing? Sometimes it's a doctors office or a hospital, does that matter?

What can I get discounts on? Shots? Treatment/Surgery?

[minnie1928]

Medical expenses are deductible. but only the amount that exceeds 7% (or is it 7.5%?) of your income (adjusted, I think). So, that might be a tough one to pull off. You're due in april, does your FSA account run on a calendar year? If so, up your contributions for 2010.

Something I haven't seen mentioned was to breastfeed, if possible. It can save you a fortune. Also, sign up with Similac or the other formula companies so they can send you samples, checks/coupons, etc.

[Radiance]

Babies don't need much

And you DON't need to get everything from the beggining. I copy from mom-from-missouri and this is what I did: (I have a 2 year old)

Get what you can at thrift stores, garage sales and friends--except get a new car seat - agree, also ask around, paople have lots of bebay stuff just waiting for a 'good cause' and that can be you. Join your local freecycle

Don't get:
a changing table--its a waste-just use a changing pad or towel to change them on. TRue, besides, you will be changing on amazing places, changing tables are only at the house.

babytub--use the kitchen sink. Guilty, I bought a babytub

baby walker--too many injuries associated with them. I got one, no issues but only when he starting walking at 11 months . That will not happen for a few months, you can keep on looking for bargains. DO get a baby carrier or sling, those thoings rock!

Do get:

crib - Not necesary, my baby slept with us in the family bed for a few months. We got one as a gift and only then I transfer him. Consider a crib that extends the bed. You do want the baby close by to tend to in the middle of the night. I didnt have to leave the bed to fed him and change him. He was right there (FYI, my son is incredible independent...besides of the fact that I never let him cry)

car seat - yes

high chair - ??? He ate on my lap all the time, I have one I got as a gift when he was about 18 months

toys - If you want to, but any SAFE object is a toy. These are easy to get cheap or free. babies love new stuff, but it only needs to be new to them. THis I learned to be tru

clothes - yes, and plenty of receiving blankets start collecting!

cloth diapers (I would not buy disposable diapers ahead of time-I have seen too many babies allergic to certain diapers) TRue! when I did switch my baby to disposables due to school, I had to try 3 brands until one worked for him, dont collect disposables. Cloth diapers, look for used AIO diapers (they have the shape of a disposable, with velcro and everything, but they are cloth. sorry I donated mines already... I kept 4 for the weekends

stroller - Not needed, my just collected dust, baby carriers by ergo or slings are best!

depending on the layout of your home, monitors are nice-I actually used mine more when they were toddlers learning to try and climb out of their cribs or if I went to check the mail or sit on the porch during their nap time - never had one

for showers-reqest allergy free lotions and shampoos incase the baby has an allergy you are stuck with ones you can't use. I am too unconventional, my shower was gift cards only. I use natural soap for baby and mom

outlet plug covers YES, but you dont need them until they crawl

bibs - never bought any until school requested them. I guess some babies are messier than others

medicine syringe, nasal and ear syringes, baby clippers - yes Decide if you want a natural prediatrician or a regular one that will prescribes antibiotics. Get Smart medicine for healthier kids book and/or "how to raise healthy kids despite of your pediatrician" Both recommended by my pediatrician.

bottles if you are not nursing--if you are, just a couple bottles true! Find out where you can rent a pump in case you need one for mommy. I had to rent one in the middle of the night

sippy cups - well, ok, but not needed for a while, introduce straws and direct drinking early. They can do it before we think. My son drinks from straw since 7 months old. Direct drinking at 14 months... some spills.

the plastic chain things--nice to clip a toy to when shopping so they can't throw it on the ground and play the "ought-oh" game - ok, althoug my son was clipped to me while shopping becasue I used a baby carrier and I had hands free! Yes, I am a baby carrier fan

teather - yes, the freezer type, again, not needed for a few months

receiving blankets - and lot of them!

crib sheets--can make them last longer by getting a couple droolers--it ties across the bed on top the sheet and they spit up on it instead of the sheet. I made mine out of a couple of old towels. You can not get my son under a bed sheet for a while, receiving blankets were enough... and my son slept with us for a while

Hope that helps, babies dont need much. My current baby budget (day care, toys, clothes, diapers, wipes, creams, non-food items such as shampoo) is $800 out of which $650 is day care. Food is not included, his food is on my food budget.

And I could do better. I am still buying clothes and toys new at walmart. room for improvement.

For formula we used parent's choice organic 50% of the price of similac and other heavely marketed formulas. parent's choice is only available in walmart, forgot the other brand that also keeps cost low by saving in marketing... what was it!!?

[fruitbowlk]

Babies grow very fast so don't go crazy on clothes/toys. Craiglist or Mommiesboards, consignment store are great places to get nice but very affordable items.