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New Mom...New Baby...New
Debt?
Susan
Koiner
susan@money-moms.com
Money-Moms
http://www.money-moms.com
Ah,
there is nothing like being an expectant mom. Along with your expanding
waistline comes the ever growing list of products for you and your new bundle of
joy. Preparing for a new baby can be a costly experience, especially in
the areas of clothing and nursery furniture. The good news is that it does
not have to be!
Letís talk about buying baby clothes...think
RESALE! Every new mom gushes over the adorable clothing available for
babies, but they often come with a not so adorable price. Resale clothing
costs a fraction of the retail price. Buying resale clothing does not
equal buying trash! Moms sell their babyís clothing to resale stores for a
variety of reasons. Babies outgrow clothes so quickly (normally before
they show any wear) they simply cannot use them anymore. Many precious
newborns receive more clothes than they can wear in a season (everyone loves to
buy baby clothes for shower giftsñthey are just too cute!) that cannot be
returned and they end up in resale stores with the tags still on! If you
have the time and know what you are looking for, you can find plenty of designer
and brand name clothing for a steal!
Buy now...save later! There is
more beauty to the changing of the seasons than just the landscape! As the
temperatures change, so do the prices of baby clothing! Most stores slash
the price of their clothing up to 75% by the end of the season to make room for
new clothes. Take advantage of this by buying a size or two larger than
your babyís current size for him/her to wear the next year. The savings
are amazing!
Another large expense when you are preparing for a new baby
is furniture for the nursery. A good place to start when considering which
pieces to buy is determining how much room you have to work
with? Do you have a large room or do you need multipurpose
furniture? A crib is a necessity and a given; however, you can pick and
choose other nursery pieces. Combination pieces such as dresser/changing
table combos are available at some stores and can save you from buying two
pieces. Cribs with attached drawer space that convert to toddler beds are
also available and will save you a lot of space. Thinking ahead when
buying nursery furniture will save you both time and money in the future.
By buying a combination piece of furniture for your nursery, you eliminate
having to sell furniture you no longer need, as well as spending time looking
for and more money on new ìbig kidî furniture.
Now that you have
decided what to buy, it is time to shop! Once again, think resale!
There are many childrenís resale stores that carry pre-owned nursery furniture
for 50% or more off retail. They usually have several styles to choose
from in different price ranges. If you find something you like, they will
usually hold it for you (if you were not really prepared to take it home) and
some stores may even have lay away plans.
Another great place to buy
pre-owned furniture is the classified ads in your local newspaper.
Sellerís usually place ads on Thursday or Friday so they can catch the weekend
readers. If you find something you are interested in, call quickly!
Good furniture does not last long! Make sure you ask the seller plenty of
questions. It is important to know before heading out to look at furniture
things like the manufacture name, the age, if they have pets (if you are buying
cushioned items and allergies are an issue for your family) and the exact color
(if it is not adequately described in the ad). Asking these questions may
be uncomfortable, but they can save you a lot of time and gasoline looking at
something you know you will not be interested in. When you do look at
pre-owned furniture from the newspaper, take someone with you and know
what you are looking at. Are the style and the manufacturer of the
furniture worth what the seller is asking for it? Is the furniture
reasonably priced for itís age and condition? With a little knowledge,
buying pre-owned nursery furniture can save you BIG money!
Awaiting the
arrival of your new baby is an exhilarating time! Add to the excitement by
saving money on quality gently worn (and sometimes new) clothing and pre-owned
nursery furniture!
Susan Koiner
www.money-moms.com
susan@money-moms.com
Susan
Koiner is a SAHM, and former teacher, of three great kids ages seven, four and
three. Her family, like many others, struggles with the challenges of "one
income" and from this comes her passion for finding creative ways to save
money. Susan is also the owner and creator of
www.money-moms.com.
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