I had never intended to be pregnant- with my fiance and my move to Florida with hopes of finding jobs for the both of us, and hopefully finding a somewhat "cheap" college, I had so much on my plate to begin with. A baby just would be too much, expense and time-wise, and we had close to nothing aside from clothing and a few bucks.
Needless to say, when I was quite sick to my stomach for a while and quite sore in places, well, I really shouldn’t have been, I decided it was time to pick up the dreaded pregnancy test. All the while hoping I just had a stomach flu, and that I would be better in a couple days….
When I took the test, it came out positive, and my fiance and I decided to head back home- the job thing only half panned out, and we where broke anyways, even with him working, and the people who gave us a place to stay thought that we should owe them more than we agreed on. So we flew back to New York with less than we left with, and had the displeasure of having to tell our friends and family that we had failed. And that we had a baby on the way.
Fast forward to now: as I look back at what we had gone through, I must say that things, although stressful, have gotten a lot better. My fiance and I get along better than we ever had, and we’ve learned so much about each-other in these few months. I am not sure what has changed, then again, I’m not sure what hasn’t. All I really know is, we are keeping the baby, our financial situation is a little better, and I am nearly seven months pregnant. And, that we are having a boy. I have learned so much in these seven months about things I never even thought about, things about life, compromise, and of course, babies! And I would like to tell you about a few simple ways to get the things you need for baby, without breaking the bank.
1. Craigslist: craigslist is a good way to find anything cheap, including baby clothes and accessories, as well as furniture. Just remember, you want to do price comparisons on anything listed- for example, a used onesie for $1.00 may seem like a good deal, but if you cross reference it with, say the same brand onesie at WalMart and the price for a brand new one is $1.00, then really it is just a waste of money. Besides, wouldn’t you rather have the new one for the same price?? Not only that, but Iv’e actually seen people put things on Craigslist for more than what they paid for it. I hate when people do that, it’s insulting to everyone else’s intelligence.
Another thing with Craigslist is ALWAYS ask for an original picture (a picture that they personally took of that item, not a picture from a magazine). If they can’t get you one, move on. Seriously, nothing is worse than going to someplace that is selling a "like new" crib for $20, and then you see it and there’s peices missing, scratches that look like it came straight from a horror film and strange smelling stains all over it.
And also, remember to email the seller as soon as you see something you like- good deals and nice stuff go like hotcakes on Craigslist. It’s a good Idea to check back every day. Also a good tip- if you have several things from one area that you want to pick up, try to arrange it with the sellers to pick up within a certain timeframe on the same day. That way, there will be less trips taken and gas money wasted.
Remember, as with all things online- be careful of scams. I have never personally encountered any on Craigslist, basically because of the way I shop (remember to ask for pictures!!) but I have heard that they are out there. You always want to be wary of people that ask for any personal information other than your name and possibly phone number.
2. Downstairs Scotty: At some churches, they have what is called a "downstairs scotty" where people donate clothing, furniture, and other items for the church to sell to other people for VERY low prices, ranging from $.10 for clothing to $1.00 for larger items. This can be wonderful if you come in early on the day they put out the new things. You can pick up a wide variety of things that are really nice, just remember to inspect things thoroughly before you buy them and make sure to wash them when you get home. It’s basically like a huge garage sale!
3. Garage Sales: Garage sales are nice especially when there are a lot of things you’re going to need at one sale. As long as the prices are fair, or you bring a really good haggler, you’ll be sure to take home a lot of the things you needed, and maybe even just some things you wanted without going broke. Remember to wash things when you get home, just in case.
4. Family and Friends: Your family is probably already clamoring to buy you new things for your baby, but be sure to ask about the old things! If a relative you know had a baby and still has baby things and does not need them, don’t be surprised if they just give them to you! It’s also a good place to get good advice about childbirth, and everything before and after. Friends too- you may find that a lot of your friends have baby stuff they are dying to get out of the way. Just remember- if you are planning on breastfeeding, do NOT share a breast pump: it can carry germs and diseases that can make your baby sick.
5. Magazines: There are plenty of free baby magazines that you can pick up a free subscription to everywhere, including the internet and your doctor’s office. Inside these magazines, there are plenty of chances to win free stuff- books, clothes, coupons, ect. that only take a minute to sign up for and minimal effort to do. After all, who wouldn’t want to win a free year’s supply of diapers?
Remember, you won’t always get new stuff, but with smart shopping techniques, you can get things that are pretty close. Shop safe, and shop smart- most of all, have fun cooing and awwwing over the onesie with the bear face on the butt. And try not to embarrass your spouse or significant other TOO much. (Then again, if he’s anything like mine, he’ll be awwwwing too!)
