Budget Babies!!

It was tough convincing my DP to ttc because he always worries about money. I promised him that babies don't need to be mega expensive, so he set me a challenge of trying to get everything (and I mean starting from scratch EVERYTHING, even including decorating the nursery etc!) for less than £500 (approx $700)  Why £500? Because we will be entitled to a Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500 once the baby is born, meaning that it will have actually cost us nothing! (That's the plan anyway!) My only rule is that the car seat and the cot mattress MUST be brand new (though might be cheeky and ask my Dad to buy the car seat  )

I thought I would keep track of how I do, as it might help someone else looking to do a baby on a budget! If anyone has any ideas/tips/tricks, please share!

Ok, so far I have spent: £60.60 ($86.75)

(I'm NOT including the cost of Pregnancy Vitamins incl folic acid (£4) , and hpts (£2.52 for 15) unless I end up under budget! )

 That breaks down to:

53 items of baby clothing (ranging from newborn to 3-6mths) - Local charity store had a 10 items for £1 on baby clothes so I filled 5 bags before I felt like I was being cheeky!! It works out at 10p a sleepsuit/top/pants/vest/coat mostly unisex but including the most BEAUTIFUL pale pink jacket with flowers on it that I would have paid £5.60 for on it's own so I don't care if I only use 1/4 of it! Even better the majority of it looks pretty much brand new and really good quality. Also bought 3 disney sleepsuits from another charity shop for 60p, so total cost on clothing so far is £5.60 (erm $8)

A real wooden rocking chair in beautiful condition that cost me £25 ($36?) again in a charity shop. Going to make some cushions for it from some old pillows/material. See I really wanted a glider chair but couldn't really justify the cost then when I saw the real wood rocker I just had to! Not *really* a necessity, but will look totally cute in the nursery, and is suprisingly comfy!

10x second hand lollipop size 1 bamboo nappies for £17 ($24), and 5x new Little Lamb size 1 wraps £13 ($18) Still need probably another 10 fast drying nappies to add to this but so far am mega pleased with myself on these ones.

Aaaaand that's where I'm up to so far! Going to a National Childbirth Trust (NCT) nearly new sale on Sunday with DP (it will probably traumatise him) so will update then as I will hopefully will nab some more bargains!!

I can't wait for an update! This should be really do able if you find bargains! Good luck!

 We've been very blessed and also had not one thing for this baby. Here's our break down:

Crib ~ given to us

Changing table ~ i used a gift card and paid $50 out of pocket

Nursing pillow ~ given to us

Jogging stroller and Normal stroller ~ given to us

High chair ~ gift from MIL

Crib bedding ~ $60

Baby clothes ~ mostly given to us, but i would say i spent about $50

Baby books and rattles etc. ~ given to us

Diapers ~ 5 cases at $30 a case = $150

Baby swing ~ $39 on clearence

Baby bouncer ~ $35 on clearence

Diaper bag ~ $40

I think that's about it...i may have forgotten a few small things...like baby shampoo...but our grand total comes to about $424=) And i'm set with clothes for the 1st year, diapers for the 1st 3-4 months (oh and wipes) etc. LOVE staying on a budget=) xXx

 I have been going to some garage sale's recently in some of the upper class neighborhood's and there are so many beautiful baby items (clothes, furniture, cribs, bouncers, swings, strollers, etc) in wonderful, hardly used, condition that they are practically giving away!  I would highly recommend checking out the garage sales :)  I bought a ton of clothes for my 4 year old (all name brand stuff;  gap, tommy hilfiger, the childrens place, old navy, nike, addidas, etc) and each piece was only a dollar or less a piece.....somebody spent a lot of money on that stuff and I got it (all in great condition) for practically nothing!  I love a great deal! 

 Oooh nice idea on the garage sales, I love a good rummage! The problem I have is that I don't drive, and while DP has a licence he cycles to work because it's so close, so we sold the car to save money (regret this now lol ) so bigger things like a crib etc would be difficult to pick up, but I'm working on it!

  Update: £89.60 ($130.55)

11x almost new (only used 2 months) Lollipop Softee nappies in size 1 for £25 ($36) - (Done on nappies! Now I won't need to spend anything on nappies until at least the 6mnth mark, when I will hopefully get as good a deal on size 2 nappies, also my local council is running a real nappy incentive scheme so after the birth will get a voucher for £45 ($65) off real nappies, so will probably buy some birth to potty ones with that to add to the stash.)

30x fleece liners - homemade from an old soft white fleece jumper - so free

10x washable wipes - homemade, will def need to make more of these at some point, but I got backache and gave up for now lol - free

37x items of newborn clothing (all brand new and unused off a friend who gave birth to her very large baby last week!) - free!

Old wood changing table - my grandma had this in her garage with grandad's tools stacked on it! DP is going to sand it down and stain it so it comes up all nice and should hopefully (FX) look brand new - free (though I had to convince DP that sanding it by hand was good enough and we did NOT have to buy an electric sander )

 1x tub of paint for the nursery (on offer) £4 ($6)

you're doing great and good for you for getting a head start on everything.  you'll be able to relax at the end of your pg! 

can't wait to see what your final cost is!!