Skimp vs Splurge

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but I'm wondering - for those of you on a tight budget, what baby things did you skimp on (ie. get secondhand) and what things did you splurge? What was the reason?

We don't have a LOT of money and we want to save up as much as we can before bubs is born (I'm thinking positive that this IS a sticky bean!!), so would like to know the things that it's best to get new, and the things that we can get away with secondhand.

Thank you!

Oh I will say however with number two we splurged on a new pram (as the one we had didnt have the option of carrying two kidlets).

Should have just splurged on one in the first place .. when we were on two incomes (although they P&T didnt make the Vibe back then .. and I wasnt too fussed on their other prams)

We were thew same as J, skimp on everything but the carseat

We splurged on a Safensound Carseat (Actually, my parents did ) I got most of Jacksons clothes from the opshops. I did get him a few Pumpkin patch things online through the product code discount thingee, just so that he had a few "nice" outfits for when we went out.

We splurged on a MB, and a cot/change table set at the baby factory. But we got it all at a great rate. Im so pleased we bought it as the MB has been great for my running.


I also rushed out to buy a breastpump the day I got out of hospital with Jackson. I was originally going to buy one off trademe but Mum told me to wait and see if I'd even need it. Turns out I needed it! We did sell it for more than half of what we bought it for on trademe.

I didnt buy him any toys, just raided the opshops and picked up a whole heap of really good toys for 50c each.


I really wish we had of slurged on some posies while we were on 2 incomes. That would have saved us so much money now that we are on one income. (I was planning on returning to work originally)

We could have got a lot more things second hand, but being on two incomes we just couldnt help ourselves. Really wish we had of saved even more money for "emergencies".

Before you figure out what to buy, I would definetly say BORROW!!! People tend to be really generous with lending out baby gear, we borrowed alot of stuff and I love repaying the favours with our own stuff now Our baby bath and bouncer have been all over the place now lol!  I agree about the clothes, I wasted sooo much money buying clothes they either never wore, or wore for 5 minutes before they grew out of them! 

KM - we only have one friend who we could borrow off, and they are TTC #2 at the moment so not really practical!! We have a bassinet - DF's family one.

Will definitely get a brand new carseat.

I work across the street from T&T so that's all good Mind you, JK, Baby Factory and Pumpkin Patch are all just up the road too LOL I'm more likely to buy any PP stuff from TM though, and just for special occasions kind of thing. I'm more of a "practical" clothes kind of girl, than fancy cute...but that's just me. There will be some cute fancy stuff, but it will be the rarity, not the norm!!

I will definitely be keeping an eye on TM for a lot of things - I'm happy with a 2nd hand cot, but might get a new mattress, depending on what the existing one is like I think....

Thanks heaps...I'm going to keep reading opinions and make a list LOL

Oh...and I have around 100 flat nappies (the old style white ones) thanks to MIL who kept them - woohoo!!

We bought our cot, change table & basinette off trademe. The cot was about $250 I think & we've been really happy with it. We did buy a new mattress for it though.

The change table ended up being free because a small piece broke off it when it was being disassembled so the man said we could take it for firewood. DH mended it with some glue.   

We bought a new high chair, stroller, bouncer & car seat. But in hindsight, everything really can be bought secondhand. Like some of the others, I would always buy a new carseat & mattress though – but that’s just me

You can buy drawers secondhand & sand them back & paint them. That can be a nice little project when you’re waiting for bubs to arrive.

If your DF is a bit of a handy man, then I think that would def work. I know you can buy the change pads on their own for the top of the table.

I have found the shelves of the table really useful for storing "stuff".

I agree J, on PP. I have bought things from their outlet stores or online & it has sometimes been cheaper than other stores. The quality is def better. Liam has some PP stuff that he has been wearing for aggges. I find the sizing really good. The resale value is a bonus too.

(I once bought a top from T&T & I couldn't even get it over Liam's head ).

Just my 2 cents worth...

Edited by sally belly

cot we got new (converts into a first bed, so we figured it would last a while and we can use it for a 2nd).
capsule- 2nd hand off a friend, so I knew it's history
carseat she is in now- new
pram/buggy- parents brought the buggy as a present and we splashed out on the carrycot for it (MB)
clothes- I tend to go slightly overboard with Ella. But I love PP stuff as it does last for ages and i love the adjustable waists on the pants. For PP I would definitely check out the outlet store online- sometimes it can be cheaper than buying off trade me (in product review thread is the link for the codes).
never bothered with a changetable and haven't regretted it, baby bath 2nd hand, and most of Ella big toys were either gifts or 2nd hand.