Preparing for baby – the nearly new way
According to the Money Advice Service the average cost of raising a baby in their first year is £3,710. Ouch! That includes everything you need to buy in preparation, from moses baskets and cots to pushchairs and car seats. And not forgetting clothes and nappies (the list goes on).
We were very lucky with our first baby (Little Shrimp) as family offered to buy the big things, and with us both working full time buying the other bits and bobs wasn’t such a problem. Four years later and we’re expecting Baby Girl Shrimp (we’ll call her BGS for short) and I’m on a mission to buy ‘nearly new.’ Why? Because we don’t have the money to buy anything at full cost and from running markets for over two years I’ve seen how much money can be saved. I have the bargain bug.
Bargain hunting
We don’t need too much for BGS as we have a lot from Little Shrimp’s baby days. But I have been on the lookout and managed to pick up the following items from our Little Pickles Markets:
Phil and Teds cocoon to keep BGS cosy in our Mini City jogger stroller
· RRP – £80
· Nearly new price – £20
· RRP £94.99 (variable in different stores)
· Nearly new price – £20
I personally wouldn’t buy a nearly new car seat. But I brought this from a friend who I 100% trust – and I know the seat has not be involved in any sort of accident.
Fisher Price, woodsy friends bouncing chair
· RRP – £42.99
· Nearly new price – £10
· RRP – £10
· Nearly new price – £1
Weaning bibs
· 10p each
My wish list
· Chest of draws for the nursery which can be used a changing table
· Cot bed (but will buy a new mattress)
· Comfy chair/nursing chair
· Clock and lamp for nursery
· Mini City jogger foot muff and rain cover
· Clothes! Although having a boy and now a girl is lovely – it does mean a whole new wardrobe.
My wish list isn’t incredibly long but we have some home improvements to make so we can all live comfortably with our addition. And we still want to go on a little UK break as a family this year just before Little Shrimp starts school, and don’t get me started on the cost of that, but I did write a blog about it last summer!
Competition time
Tell us what ‘nearly new’ bargains you’ve pick up at our markets or what’s on your wish list while you bargain hunt.
Leave your comment below and we’ll enter you into a prize draw to win a luxury goody bag and a free nearly new table (worth £10) at any of our markets (subject to availability) during 2014.
Closing date: Friday 28th February – Competition Now Closed
Good luck!
Blog written by Selina Shrimpton, Little Pickles Market Organiser Dorset
9 Comments
Leanne Oliver-Pulford
I picked up a Reindeer rocker last Christmas which was a fab first christmas present for my then 9mth old son – would have cost £50+ new but I paid £20 and it was in excellent condition. Now he is nearly 2 and I am always on the look out for good toys, he loves being outside so I think garden things next – when the weather gets better! X
Carrie Davies Bateman
This weekend I picked up a walker for my 8mth old for £4! A big bag of my little ponies for my 6yr old for £3 and a lovely, well looked after vtech toy which I’m sure would have cost me a great deal more than the fiver I paid for my 2yr old’s new toy. I only wish I had taken more cash!! First market I’ve been to and will definitely be looking out for the next one!
Lisa Bradshaw
This weekend I purchased a baby walker. Immaculate condition for £4, some books for 20p each and lots of toys ranging from 50p -£2. I go to all the local markets in my area, I meet new people and get such quality items at great prices 🙂
Satah
I recently purchased some lovely Clarks shoes for my little girl – three pairs for under £10. In the shop this would have cost me £60plus and I could not afford to buy as many and we all know every girl needs shoes 😉
Miriam Petrova
I got some lovely maternity tops, all in excellent condition each for £1.5!!!! and beautiful baby girls snow suit in fantastic condition for only £2!!! i love Little Pickles Markets and go to every market in my area!!!
Claire Dunne
Love the Littledown sales!!- have picked up K’Nex building set toys-4 boxes for under £5, John Lewis boys towelling beach set-bargain at £1.50, Orchard toy game £1.50, Great bargains for my boys.
Liz
I got a truck that stores cars in the side of it for my son, the mac characters are a pound;40 in the shops but we paid a pound;3 for ours- he loves it so much that I have to hide it so he doesn’t play with it day in day out.
Dean Brunton
I picked a brand new boxed princess barbie doll for only £3. It was a great Xmas present for my daughter and I was very impressed that I managed to hide it in my bag without her noticing!
Carrie Botterill
Where do I start. So many lovely goodies. I got a fab pair of little Gore-Tex boots that were RRP £45. Only used a couple of times got then for £7. Laura Ashley dino Duvet set for £3. A fab Jules body warmer that’s like new for £3. Lots and lots of fab books and toys for my little boy. My wish list is fisher price trio construction set. Playmobli sets for a little boy. Aeroplane toys A lovely winter/spring jacket. That’s just for starters. Lol.