Frightened by the cost of having a baby? I used to be too.
In fact I was so worried I noticed a few grey hairs.
However, seven children later, I have got bargain hunting
down to an art. The grey hairs are still there (my children
tell me) but they don’t seem to be getting any worse. My
children have everything they need (or rather that I want
them to need!) and at very little cost too. I’m going to let
you in on my secrets too.

First time Parents often want everything for their baby to
be new. This can work out quite costly. Second time round
many parents realise that the baby doesn’t know the
difference between new and nearly new and often prefer the
savings that buying secondhand can bring. However, if buying
new is a must there are still ways to find bargains.

For equipment it’s worth waiting for the sales if you can
hold out - lots of retailers sell of old stock at half
price. This is particularly true for pushchairs and prams
since manufacturers change their colour schemes each season.
Look out for end of lines where makes or styles have been
discontinued. Remember that you have the same rights in the
UK buying sale items as you do when buying full priced
items.

Brand new nursery gear can also be found on online auction
websites. Be careful to note where the item will be shipped
from as some will come from abroad and watch those postage
prices when considering your bid since hefty postage charges
can make an item more expensive than buying in a shop. Also
check with the seller if you can return unsuitable items.
You also need to be aware that any aftersales service if the
item breaks after a short time is likely to be non-existant.
Try and pay by credit card if the goods are over £100 each
as this will offer some protection.

There are plenty of websites online that also offer either
past seasons and end of line nursery equipment and clothing
but also some that just discount on current seasons stock.
Selling online usually means less overheads and so retailers
are able to pass the savings on to the customer. You will
also have far more legal protection if things go wrong
buying this way and also the chance to return any unsuitable
goods for whatever reason.

If you don’t mind buying secondhand then there are even
greater bargains to be found. As well as the above options
plenty of bargains can be found at car boot sales. Remember
to check out any equipment or toys for broken parts or sharp
edges and try and ensure the instructions are there. Also
safety recommendations may have changed since the seller
purchased the item and so it’s best to stick to items that
have been bought recently and not stored in an attic for
many years. Avoid used car seats as you can never tell if
these have been involved in an accident or dropped and it’s
also best to avoid electrical items too for safety reasons.
If you hunt around though and go often then you will find
that amongst the junk you will often find people selling
baby gear that looks as good as new.

If you choose carefully then the cost of kitting your baby
out drops dramatically. Try and work out what items you
really need by asking other mums what they found useful and
what items they bought and didn’t use much. Then armed with
your list of what you want you can set out in search of
bargains!