A couple weeks ago, I gave you a list of baby gear that you may need to purchase/borrow/steal for your second baby. Today is a sort of sequel to that post. You likely have less money to spend on this bambino. You already stretched your budget to incorporate the first mini person. Stretching your budget further may not feel feasible, especially for costly items like a second crib or a double stroller. The other big factor for baby number two is that there's no baby shower. Last time around you relied on incredibly generous family members and friends for the lion's share of your needs. Well, that was a one time deal. You're on your own this time. But, rather than throw everything on a credit card and close your eyes, here are some money saving ideas.
And now, for the list:
Craigslist - Some of us get an itchy feeling when we hear the word Craigslist thanks to some of its unsavory forums and some high profile, high scandalous users. But, Craigslist is actually an incredible resource for secondhand shopping. For big ticket items, like double strollers and car seats, you can find very new products (1 or 2 years old) with minimal wear and tear. I have a friend who scored a 2013 Bumbleride double stroller, that had been used a whopping two times with some accessories still in the original packaging, for half the price of retail.
eBay - Same shpeel as above. You can get some fantastic, near new (and sometimes actually new) baby gear for super cheap. Just pay close attention to seller ratings and the location of the seller (i.e. is the item coming from Columbus, OH or Shanghai).
Borrow from Friends and Family - This is the obvious one. Email your friends and family with the list of your needs. Even if they don't have what you need to borrow, they each have their own network and they may be able to connect you to someone who does.
Facebook - I've seen many a Facebook post asking for anyone who has unused baby stuff up for grabs. On the flip side, I've seen posts from people who want to sell or give away their old baby stuff. You don't want some old co-workers junk, but you never know what gem is out there and it's nice to know the previous user (versus Craigslist/eBay). A quick "Anyone looking to get rid of their double stroller?" post could be the best thing that Facebook ever does for you.
Register - You don't get a baby shower for your second baby. But, that doesn't mean that you can't register for stuff. Pottery Barn doesn't know whether you're having another baby shower (and I'm pretty sure they don't care). If you want those pink Penelope sheets, why not register for them and then use your 10% registry completion discount to buy them? I don't recommend making a registry for every item you want for your children throughout their lives in order to get a discount, but I think a registry for another baby is totally legit.
Secondhand Baby Stores - These may not be your thing, but they are certainly worth a peek. Especially the fancy versions that only except high end, brand new or as-good-as-new stuff. These boutique stores are typically more prevalent with better inventory in the city (versus the burbs) and I recommending reading some reviews on Yelp before you made the trek.
What creative place did you get your baby gear? Any horror stories?
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