Buy Used… Save the Difference
Relaxing in her cheap swing!
Call me irresponsible or lazy, but I have never been a bargain shopper. That is, until Braylin came along (babies really do change EVERYTHING).
In the past, if there was something that I wanted or “needed,” I would buy it without thinking twice. You would find this to be very evident if you took a glance into my closet (which is filled with clothes that I cannot wear right now and purses that have been replaced by a diaper bag).
Now, I am clipping coupons, waiting for sales, and (my favorite) buying used items. I recently heard a saying, “Buy used and save the difference.” That is brilliant! I search the local “yard sale” websites and patiently wait for the items that Braylin “needs” to pop up. So far, I have gotten a brand new swing for a third of the price it is in the local baby store, a gently used Baby Bjorn for fifteen dollars, and a few other steals. I’m telling you, those sites are a goldmine for baby stuff.
Of course, buying used requires a little extra work. You have to find a place that works for the buyer and the seller to pick up the item and hope that everyone does what they are supposed to. I only buy items that can be cleaned and disinfected to be like new, so when I get them home, I scrub the life out of them. The extra work is totally worth it!
In an effort to be responsible, I use the difference that I save on these used items to put into Braylin’s savings account. One day, I hope to explain to her where some of the money in her account came from and encourage her to be a bargain shopper like me.
What are some ways you save money on baby stuff?
