Today’s Frugal Friday tip is…. Don’t buy new!!
Now obviously this doesn’t apply to everything.. but for things like kids clothes and toys, even baby swings, bassinets, highchairs ect… Don’t buy new!! There are sooo many options out there to buy really great quality items without paying sticker price…Try Craigslist, try mom swaps on Facebook- there is one in almost every major city.. and if there isn’t, start one, I can almost guarantee it will take off! There are also virtual garage sale sites, and of course EBay. Don’t want to shop online? Then hit up your local second hand stores. There are some amazing gently used kids stores out there now.. Its not all just Goodwill and Salvation Army anymore… there are tons of smaller consignment shops with next to new items being sold! Which leads me to the next point.. Done with your baby items?? Sell them! These same consignment shops let you sell your stuff there!! How it works is one of two ways.. 1) the store takes a percentage of the sale or 2) the store just buys your items outright and then sell them for more in the store… Either way you are able to sell your gently used items to a huge customer base, with little to no work… Can’t get much better then that right?! Or you can do it online.. You can sell on any of the places listed above. Obviously craigslist and Ebay are the most known options. But all the Mom Swap sites you can sell on to, and most of the sites are organized into categorized albums so its easy to find and sell things… and the best part is, no sharing the profits! You meet up with the seller or buyers yourself and get to keep all the money that you sell the item for. And then of course don’t forget the good old, traditional garage sales! They are still one of my favorite ways to find great deals!!!
Here’s one of my latest buys:
New this bike was over $100. I got it off one of the Mom Swap sites for $40… it was used 3 times. I was more then happy to save $60 on something that was basically still brand new….
Happy Friday!!!
X♥O Nicole
**Please always remember when buying used… If buying a used car seat make sure a) it has never been in a car accident and 2) it is not expired! Every car seat has an expiration date on it… check this first… SAFETY FIRST (I personally would only buy new when it comes to car seats… but if you are in a position where new is not an option, please always remember those 2 things).
Aaah yes, I am addicted to the Facebook yard sales. I wish I’d used more second hand stuff with my firstborn when he was a baby. I could have saved so much money and so much baby stuff is only used for a couple months.
Yay, I try not to buy new too, and saves a lot. I try to remake my clothes and go to thrift store.
Yay, I try not to buy new too, and saves a lot. I try to remake my clothes and go to thrift store.
I am a big fan of buying used. It saves money and the environment. I outfitted my kids mostly from garage sales, and often times the clothes still had tags attached!
I am a big fan of buying used. It saves money and the environment. I outfitted my kids mostly from garage sales, and often times the clothes still had tags attached!