Mini money saving tips that might save a lot...

Happy New Year! I thought this was the prefect time of year to share with you a few things that have worked for us in helping saving a few pennies and the planet...


TIP 1: Beg and borrow off others. Many people who already have kids maybe more than happy to loan, moses baskets, car seats, cots, highchairs, travel cots etc. whilst waiting for child 2, 3, 4... Ask friends/family with older kids if they can loan stuff to you (possible offer them a small 'rental' fee) most people would be more than happy to help, as it saves them storing bulky stuff

TIP 2: Bag a last minute eBay auctions. I  saved a fortune waiting until the last minute to bid on things like hooded baby towels, dressing gown, bedding and blankets

TIP 3: Nearly New Sales are ace! especially for baby things. Lots around, often in spring and autumn

TIP 4: Are there local Facebook groups for buying/selling stuff? a local group often means no postage cost because you can walk/cycle and collect in person

TIP 5: freecycle and fridgemountain, have kids stuff advertised that is being given away, and you can post requests on too

TIP 6: Charity Shop, its pot luck and the trick is to keep popping in

TIP 7: Ask people for specific things that the little one needs for Christmas or a birthday rather than getting 3 lots of things they already have. People are often pleased to know they are buying something that is wanted, needed and will be used

TIP 8: Try a toy library or... why not start your own one amongst friends


TIP 9: Alternative to packets and packets of baby wipes. Buy a packet of washing up clothes (you know the ones, the blue and white ones), cut them in half or even quarters and use them to wipe fingers and faces, and just about everything you do with the baby wipes. When they are dirt throw in the washing machine and re-use as many times as possible before they fall apart in the washing machine. Although, please note I would not recommend for nappy change time unless its an emergency. When out-and-about pop one or two cut up cloths in a zip-able plastic bag.

OUR EXPERIENCES

PRAM: We brought a pram off eBay (from a warehouse type eBay shop) just as Mothercare were issuing a new model. we therefore got a new pram in the 'older' model for £200 cheaper than the newer one in Mothercare. I asked in Mothercare what the difference was between the two models and it was the car seat fitting (which made no difference to us as we had a car seat on loan)

NAPPIES: Real nappies have saved a small fortune! you can buy them clean and secondhand or brand new (we opted for  new bamboo based ones). Cloth nappies save about £1,000 over the course of time a one little needs them. This includes the cost of water, electricity, liners and washing powder. We aren't complete hippies... We do use eco-disposables when we are away from home for more than 48 hours. But over the 2 years+ our little one has worn nappies its saved a lot of money not to mention how much its helped mother nature's supply of resources.

Second, third, forth and more hand...

I'll kick off by singing the virtues of second hand... (by second hand I mean not brought as brand new).

I'd hazzard a guess that about 90% of the essential items that our daughter needed as a newborn, and now about 80% of her essential items as a toddler were/are second hand. Things including her cot, sterilser, blankets, car seats (both with know history), changing table, highchairs, sit on bike, buggy-board for the pram, wellies and clothes. Lots of non-essentials too; books, toys, DVDs, bibs and tons of art and craft materials...

These things coming from family and friends with older kids, eBay, charity shops, 'Nearly New' sales', the local library (selling off old stock) and website like freecycle and fridgemountain. Friends have also lent us things on long and short term loans, rather than us having to buy them, while they were not needed in their households. It goes without saying that when the items are no longer needed they are returned, passed on to friends/charity or even re-sold (our sling was brought new for £45, and I sold it on eBay for £30 to a lady in the north of England setting up a sling library).