A Green and Thrifty Pregnancy: Update
This week I realised I have managed to gather everything I will need for the expected new addition to our family due sometime in January.
The icing on the cake was being the winning bidder on eBay for a fantastic Graco travel system/pram/pushchair/car seat (*with* senior & junior cupholders!) which is a bit of a dream come true for me as I was limited to chunky, basic twin pushchairs when expecting the twins five years ago - all my friends with solo babies were choosing lovely prams with extra added sophistication. The purchase was especially gratifying as I ‘won’ it for £17 instead of the r.r.p of £180. Definitely my kind of pram.
As I have mentioned before we have been aiming to spend as little as possible on this newbie given that so much of the kit needed to make life comfortable with a pregnant bump or a new baby is required for such a short amount of time it makes little sense spend loads buying it all brand new from the many shops selling expensive baby gear.
When we had our twins 5 years ago we spent an aboslute fortune on kitting out a nursery, a double pram, two single buggies, huge packs of disposable nappies each week, toys etc etc. I was working in the City and Bealers had a successful software business so we didn’t even flinch at the fact that within a year over £10k had been squandered on two very small beings. Yikes! It would take a long time to save that kind of money and surely there are much more fun things to buy than baby related paraphenalia?
At the begining of this pregnancy I made a list of all the things I thought we would need this time round for a baby. This was obviously much easier having gained the knowledge of what baby things we found useful last time with both kids.
I also sent a slightly grovelly message round to friends with children asking them to think of us if they were passing on any baby things to charity as we’d gladly take them off their hands. So many people have been so kind with huge bags of lovely barely used baby booty now neatly stacked up ready for action in the spare room.
Despite the desire to keep things frugal and thrifty I have still totted up a grand total of £550.
Admitedly, we did decide to buy fewthings new which I hadn’t anticipated which made the total higher than it needed to be. For example I bought a brand new Amby Nature Nest baby hammock (£180) for the young ‘un to sleep despite being given a lovely moses basket. The hammock will hopefully double up as a travel cot too when we travel to see friends & relatives. I also spent what seemed like a lot of money on six new nursing tops + two bras (about £100) as I couldn’t find the ones I wanted on eBay - I figured the amount of use/washing they get subjected to over the course of the year or so they are in action it would be wise to buy new, well fitting, well made garments.
Here is the master list of things we wanted to get prior to Junior’s arrival, where we got it from and how much money things would have been had we bought it all new from a mid-range shop (e.g Mothercare)
- GIVEN: Moses basket (Thanks Kurt & Mandy! would have been £60)
- GIVEN: Changing table (thanks Sam! would have been £50)
- GIVEN: [Many thanks to Nat, Jonesy, Katie and Beki! ] Cardies, jackets, socks, hats, mittens, bibs, vests & baby grow, nursing pads,boob soothers, cream x 2, blankets (would have been £100)
- GIVEN: (Many thanks to Katie) Luxury nursing pillow (’My Brest Friend’ would have been £50)
- GIVEN: (Many thanks to Katie & Beki): 2 x Pumps (would have been £50)
- GIVEN: Tommy Tippee steriliser + bottles (huge thanks to Natalie would have been £50)
- GIVEN: Monitor (thank you Jules would have been £20)
- Given via Freecycle: Reusable, washable nappies x 20 (would have been £200)
- Bought 2nd Hand: Baby swing chair [£5 NCT nearly new sale would have been £40 new]
- Bought 2nd Hand: Baby play mats [£7 NCT nearly new sale] would have been £20 new
- Bought 2nd Hand: Nappy soak bucket (£3 NCT nearly new sale would have been £10 new]
- Bought 2nd Hand: Bump wedge [£3 NCT nearly new sale would have been £10]
- Bought 2nd Hand: Pram [eBay £17 Graco travel system incl. infant car seat/carrier would have been £180]
- Bought 2nd Hand: Bundle of maternity clothes (eBay £9 would have been £100)
- HIRED: TENS machine (£25 hire from www.expressyourselfmums.co.uk)
- Bought new: Nursing shawl wrap (£30 from www.expressyourselfmums.co.uk)
- Bought new: reast milk freezing bags (£10 from www.expressyourselfmums.co.uk)
- Bought new: : Nursing long sleeved and t-shirt tops (6 x tops £69 from Jojomamanbebe)
- Bought new: : Pack of two fitted moses basket/pram sheets (Matalan £3)
- Bought new: : Nappy change mat (£7 Matalan)
- Bought new: Gym/birth ball (birth-ease eBay £14.99)
- Bought new: Wrap around sling (http://www.closebabycarrier.com [£49.50]
- Bought new: Nursing bras x 2 [£50]
- Bought new: Amby nature nest hammock + pack of 2 x fitted sheets [£180]
- Bought new: Maternity sweaters x 2 + black leggings, jeans etc Mothercare and Next clearance warehouse [£60]
£545 = Total Spend
Of which were unnecessary brand new luxuries: £267= £180 Amby nature Nest + sling £50 + changing mat £7 + Shawl £30
£278 = Actual cost of thrift pregnancy/newborn babe
£1500 = Estimated spend if everything on the above list had been bought from new
The next step will be to ensure that everything we have gathered for our little chick is either passed back to its previous owners if they have further use for it, advertised on Freecycle or, in the case of the expensive things we bought brand new, sold as 2nd hand on eBay.
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:17 am
[...] certainly will not be saying goodbye to large sums just because Junior has joined us (see ‘Thrifty Pregnancy/Baby‘ [...]
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 am
I so agree with you! When I was pregnant with my daughter everyone went mad with the stuff they bought - everything I had including reusable nappies was 2nd hand, given to me or bought in the sale - is my daughter a less happy one year old? No.
If I now buy things new - like a walker that sells for almost the same price used on ebay than it would cost new - it’s the new one because I figure it has a good resell value. E.g. I bought a bumbo new that I resold for a profit…
good luck with your new addition!
Mel
January 24th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Hello there, I’ve only just found your blog and really enjoying it so far. Not sure if your new baby is born yet: very exciting times! I moved out of london in August 06, so around a similar time, and had my first kid in Oct. Am v. much going through the same process as you to become a sort of adequate mum/house wife (do work a bit from home when work comes up).
Just two things I wanted to mention: I think the sling is a great idea, and will be used loads with twins to run around after. Don’t bother carrying the moses basket with you from room to room: just load the baby into the sling, and you’re practically hands-free. I wish I had discovered slings earlier on with my 15-month old, they are a godsend. Babies sleep very well in them, and you might be able to breastfeed on the go as well!
Other thing is: the milk bottles. I got mine from my sisters. I have Avent ones though, and my brother-in-law mentioned that they can double up as food jars when you start to wean the little one. Just fill it up with puree or whatever, freeze them and take out/defrost when you need it. V handy for on the go as well, and no hassle with ice cube trays etc.
Good luck with it all!
February 3rd, 2008 at 12:03 am
You are so wise! It’s amazing how baby registries have suddenly grown to several pages in length, including such oddities as “wipe warmers” as standard necessities. Buying used and reducing is far more helpful to the planet than just buying loads of new organic products. My co-author and I have a website entitled http://www.greenbabyguide.com that focuses on thrifty, green living. I really enjoy your blogs!
April 18th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Hello,
I enjoy hearing how thrifty some parents can be. Having two babies myself, I’m aware of the expense involved- it’s horrific to think that there are people out there who squander so much money on ‘wipe warmers’?! That’s a new one on me but not surprising.
Anyway, I’m also a freelance writer, and thought it would be interesting to do an article on frugality, especially given the current economic crisis. Would you be interested in featuring in the piece? Please contact me if so.
Thanks, Cheryl : )