Having a baby can be one of the most exciting times in a person’s life, but it can also be one of the most trying in terms of financial stability. From formula to clothes to gear and doctors’ visits, babies can be incredibly expensive. But there are ways to reduce costs and help ease stress. One of the first places to look is the internet, as there are numerous money saving opportunities online.
There are countless forums out there for parents, many of them geared towards saving money. Check out sites like wahm.com or frugalmom.net, or just try a search engine and find your own. Most will have some great advice on how to save money on anything you could need for your baby. Some have coupon swapping, which can be a great way to pick up some free coupons for everyday items your baby will need.
The most popular way to find cheap or free baby items online today are sites like craigslist.org or ebay.com. They have used and new items for heavily discounted prices. There are some differences in the way the sites work, so it’s a good idea to check out both.
With Craigslist, you have to drive to pick the items up, so gas prices could be an issue unless you stick close to home. But you have the advantage of seeing what you are buying before you pay for it. There are always plenty of baby items on the site, usually things people are selling because their own children have outgrown or don’t use it anymore. Clothes, cribs, strollers, toddler beds, and toys are just some of the things people put up for sale. Many times, they are just trying to get rid of the things, so you can usually get them for a pretty good price.
Ebay, as most people know, is an auction site. Because items have to be shipped, it can be a little expensive to buy large items like cribs or strollers, but it is great for things like clothes or smaller toys. There are literally thousands of
items, some in wholesale lots. It is pretty common for some sellers to bundle
all their baby clothes into one big sale, which you can get incredibly cheaply.
Even with shipping, you can still find some lots of clothes that equal out to a
couple dollars or less for each piece of clothing. You have the disadvantage of
not being able to see them before you buy them, but most sellers have some kind
of return policy.
Also keep an eye out for web specials that your favorites retailers may have. Sometimes stores will have deals where if you purchase things online, they charge a little less than they would if you went to the store in person.
Raising a baby can be hard enough. There is no reason why struggling to pay for things your baby needs should add to your worries. With all of the opportunities the internet provides, there are plenty of ways you can find some great things without breaking the bank.