Money Matters
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
parents- what is your best $ saving tip?
There have been a lot of baby discussions lately, and several new pregnancies on the board, so I thought this may be a fun topic.
How do you save money on essentials for kids?
What has been your biggest splurge for the nursery/kids room?
What have you saved money on in the nursery/kids room?
How do you save money on essentials for kids?
What has been your biggest splurge for the nursery/kids room?
What have you saved money on in the nursery/kids room?
Re: parents- what is your best $ saving tip?
Biggest splurge was the rocking chair. It was Amish made and worth it since I've spent so much time in it first nursing and even now with bottles and everything.
Biggest savings would probably be the crib. I found one super cheap clearance at Target. It wasn't the color or style or anything that I had wanted, but it looks great. And by only spending $80 on the crib it helped me justify the rocking chair.
What has been your biggest splurge for the nursery/kids room? I bought new bedding/curtains in a set for $129. online.
What have you saved money on in the nursery/kids room? Clothes. I have not bought a single clothing items. I've done trades with friends who well timed are having girls- They gave me their old boy stuff, I gave a lot of old girl stuff. Garage sales, and buying from friends has gotten us all our essentials and barely spending any money.
Shop consignment sales for clothing, Sam's Club for diaper, wipes, and formula. Try and find coupons for regular baby items (diapers, wipes, formula) if you can't buy from Sam's/Costco. Make your own baby food. Feed your kid what you and your husband eat.
What has been your biggest splurge for the nursery/kids room?
We didn't really splurge. We bough crib/changing table from JC Penney, found a stroller/car seat on clearance, and bought a pack n play. Those were really the only "big" purchases we made.
What have you saved money on in the nursery/kids room?
Shop sales for furniture. Crib (for safety reasons) is really the only thing you need new. Use a dresser as a changing table. Don't buy bedding - all you'll really use is the sheets. A lot of times a rocker/glider is a waste of money. Consider not buying or buy used. Look for sales for all of your big baby items. Use BRU and BBB 20% off coupons. Don't waste money decorating a Pinterest worthy nursery - babies don't really care what their room looks like.
I breastfeed and cloth diaper. I can't recommend cloth diapering enough - it is so easy and economical, and has so many benefits. Many people write it off automatically, but it's really not gross and will save a ton of money. Also, I just had my second baby a couple months ago, and she is now being diapered for free (since I bought everything for DD1)! I also make my own baby food, and love getting hand-me-downs.
Now that I'm on baby #2, I realize how much useless stuff we had bought, and how much money we wasted. They get so many toys and clothes from family and friends, and I have had to throw out so much if I couldn't donate it. Hardly any of it gets played with - they just want to play outside, or read books, or use their imaginations - they don't need a lot of junk to have fun and learn.
We splurged on the crib. It is a convertible crib, so it transitioned into a toddler bed for DD1 before we moved her into a twin bed (hand-me-down/DH's old bed from his parents' house). Now DD2 is using it, and will get another 3+ years out of it.
We also splurged on nice black-out curtains. They keep the room dark, and she sleeps so much better! I got some cheaper ones for DD's room and they are just not the same; the room is still so bright.
Do NOT buy the bedding sets. Yes, they make the room look pretty, but it doesn't get used. The bumpers are not safe, the quilts probably won't get used, and the sheets get changed so frequently that it never stays all put-together.
Amazon Subscribe and Save in combination with Amazon Mom has been amazing for diapers and wipes. Consistent prices delivered to my door every month - free shipping.
Consignment shops for clothing or family and friends can buy for holidays.
We never used the convertible portion of our crib. Ds1 moved to a toddler best right around the time that Ds2 arrived. We used a bassinet next to my side of the bed for 4 to 5 months. It was easier for night time feedings and I felt better having them close.
Splurge was an AngelCare monitor - has a sensor that can detect even the slight movement of breathing. If no movement in like 20 seconds, it alerts you.
I nursed and pumped. A good pump if your insurance doesn't cover one. Mine only covers a manual pump.
For diapers, we signed up for the Amazon program until our DS out grew the size 3 at a year old. Then we went to BJs to get diapers and wipes in bulk. The wipes would usually last us two to three months.
One suggestion that isn't "money" smart but is best if multiple family members will be watching the LO, everyone has their own car seat in their vehicle at all times. This way you don't have what happens where as the family is playing musical car seats, the car seat doesn't get latched properly. We have bought three of every car seat/ base that we have used so that MIL who is the primary care giver while we work has the same system.
Also, once we found out that our DS likes what we eat, we stopped buying the baby, toddler food which saves money if you don't make your own.
In short, the best advice is to buy second hand clothes and toys when the LO is young (under 5) they don't care and it saves you money.
Save money = don't buy a larger vehicle just because you have a child. We fit 3 carseats across the back of our 2005 Chevy Impala (4 door sedan).
Don't buy a video camera (waste of money with smart phones now).
The only things we buy new are: shoes (Stride Rite and KEEN, which are both $$$ but worth it for the durablility), pjs, socks, underwear AND car seats.
Also save money by buying gender neutral décor items and accessories for the nursery. For example, when you get some drapery panels for the nursery, buy ones that could be used for a boy OR girl. Generally, I avoid blue and pink or green and purple for items and stick to neutrals (or yellow). When you buy a rocker/glider, buy one that can also be used in an adult room and doesn't scream "baby nursery."
Oh also, if you do buy new nursery furniture you can get by just fine with the lower cost brands at Babies are us. I think we bought a new crib and matching changing table for $500 before tax.
Beware that drop-sided cribs are ILLEGAL now. So don't buy one from garage sale or off Craigslist.
So, I just thought of this: areas not to skimp on for kids (IMHO):
1. Car seats.
2. Shoes.
3. Breast Pump (I have a Medela Swing and it's portable for travel and has lasted 3 babies).
4. Good baby gates (we have 3 of the Regalo brand ones).
5. Ample amounts of outlet covers.
6. Furniture anchors to anchor tall or tippy furniture into the walls.
7. Family health insurance plan.
8. LIFE INSURANCE for you and DH.
9. Carbon monoxide detectors.
What has been your biggest splurge for the nursery/kids room?
What have you saved money on in the nursery/kids room?
We were lucky to get our crib and chair handed down from my brother. The only new thing in the kids' room is their dresser from Ikea with the changing pad on top. I didn't use a monitor for either one.. I guess the only splurge has been on the car seats. Which I traded an old one in and got 25% off with the Babies R Us trade in event.
Really I think the biggest thing is that babies really don't need much. There are so many fancy things out these days that can be such a waste of money.
Take a good hard look at what you REALLY need - you can do without a good many of what people buy for an infant or children. Less stuff makes life more simple - less to clean & store as well as maintain.
Cloth diapering and breast feeding save $$ as well.
Clothing- hand-me downs are the best. Also, I shopped a lot of consignment sales (Thredup.com as well as some consignment sales in our area) and garage sales. Also I shop at the end of the season/clearance racks and buy ahead when stores are trying to get rid of stuff.
Gear- We only bought the essentials. If you go to babies r us, they give you a giant list of what you need. We only bought about 1/2 of it. Also, if you can borrow items from friends/family. The kids are in the bouncer /swing for a short amount of time. Garage sales are also great for baby gear as some of it is barely used (especially if it was the stuff that was at grandma's house and only used 2 times!)
Formula(if you need it): Sign up with the various formula manufacturers. They will send you coupons. You can trade what you don't use for the coupons you need. Also, I used to find good coupons on the internet. Our DD only did well on one formula which was expensive, so I offset that cost with the mfg checks and coupons.
Our crib was a hand-me down. It was safe and that was all I needed. We got a dresser and put a changing pad on top of it instead of a separate changer.
Baby food...I used to make my own. I just used to make extra veggies, etc. and grind it up.
Thanks for sharing!