5 Baby Items You’d Be Crazy to Pay Full Price For

October 13, 2011 By 6 Comments

Sometimes I think readers think I’m exaggerating when I say never to pay full price. I’m not! It’s true that some items, like ERGObaby carriers and BOB strollers are pretty hard to find on sale, but there are many items that are nearly ALWAYS on sale. I’ve put together a short list of them (based on prices at Amazon):

You’d be seriously nuts to pay list price for the items on this list:

  • Disposable diapers and wipes: The fact that diapers and wipes are always on sale somewhere is one of the top reasons I started the Baby Cheapskate blog in the first place. Right now at Amazon we’re seeing some of the lowest prices on diapers since I started the blog nearly six years ago. Let’s say there’s a six-cent difference between the full price of a diaper and the price YOU pay. At eight diapers per day, your smart shopping would save you $175 over the course of a year. NEVER pay full price for diapers.
  • Graco cribs are rarely full price. The super-popular Lauren crib lists for $175.99. Over the last 15 months, it’s spent maybe 30 of the last 450 days at that price (around 7%). More often, it’s 15% to 20% off.
  • Baby monitors: Top selling baby monitors from Summer Infant and Philips AVENT are constantly discounted. The Philips AVENT Digital Video Baby Monitor, for example, lists for $219.99. It’s been at least 10% less than that at Amazon for nearly a year. With the exception of a few days, it’s been 20% or more off list price for the past six months, and it’s been around 30% off or more for the past two months.

The Summer Infant Day and Night Handheld Color Video Monitor is the same way. It lists for $179.99. In the last three years it looks like it’s spent only about 3% of the time at list price. It hasn’t come within 6% of list price in the past year. It’s usually more than 20% off and fairly often more than 30% off.

  • Skip Hop diaper bags are also less than full price most of the time. List price on the popular Duo Deluxe bag in the Wave Dot pattern is $58, but it’s generally at least 15% less than that. In fact, it’s only sold for list price during around 30 of the past 500 days or so.
  • Fisher-Price baby gear. It’s easy to find great deals on popular Fisher Price baby gear items. The Jumperoo, one of the most popular pieces of gear, is always on sale. The Rainforest Jumperoo lists for $95.99. What!?! According to CamelCamelCamel, it has NEVER cost that much at Amazon since it showed up there in 2008. Most of the time it’s been at least 20% less than that. It’s been 24% off or more for most of the last six months. Right now, it’s at over 30% off at $65.

There are many, many, MANY more items that, like the ones above, are usually well below list price.

So what’s my point? Simply that smart shoppers will ignore list price. Instead, use price-tracking sites like CamelCamelCamel.com and feedback from other parents to find out what the real price usually is. Then you’ll have a much better idea of what to pay.

What are some baby items that you always see on sale?

Filed Under: Baby Gear, Deals & Sales, Frugal Living

The ABCs of Affording Preschool

July 12, 2011 By 12 Comments

The preschool application process for kids three to five is quite an eye opener for many parents. If you’re like me, you had no idea that getting your child into her first preschool program could be just about as involved as applying to college. I’ve put together this article to help you find a few ways to make it easier and more affordable.

When to Start Looking

In many areas, the demand for preschool outpaces supply, so it pays to start your research early. I’ve heard stories of some parents putting their children on the preschool waiting list before they were born! Hopefully things won’t be so extreme in your town. Still, it’s smart to start researching preschools a year ahead and plan on touring schools and submitting applications at the beginning of the year in which you’d like your child to start. Most schools offer open houses and enrollment periods as early as January.

How Much?

Accompanying the question of how to get your child into a good program (for most of us anyway), is the equally important consideration of how you’ll afford it. Preschool tuition costs generally run anywhere from about $250 to $1000 per month. That’s $3000 to $12,000 a year. Yikes! That price varies wildly according to your region, the type of preschool and the number of hours per week your child will attend.

Some types of childcare tend to be more affordable than others. Church-based preschools are some of the most affordable schools around. Whereas a local Montessori school in my area charged around $1000 a month, the church-based school we loved charged less than $300. Co-ops tend to be more affordable, too, but require a time commitment from parents. Even if your school’s not a co-op, see if you can work off a portion of your tuition by spending a few hours per week at the school.

The cost of full time care for a pre-K kiddo in my state (Georgia) is around $500 a month. Take a look at costs in your region using the map here. Note: The cost may be more manageable if you can pay in installments. Look for a school that lets you pay monthly rather than asking for a year’s tuition up front or in two payments.

Important Questions for Potential Schools

Schools are pretty upfront about how much they charge. Still, there are a few crucial questions you should ask potential schools before you make any committments. They’ll help you avoid sticker shock later.

  • Ask about scholarships and tuition assistance.
  • Ask if you can get a discount when you enroll more than one child at a time.
  • Ask about activity and materials fees and any other fees beyond tuition that you’ll be asked to pay.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Deals & Sales, Frugal Living, Parenting Guides

Find Sales Near You with Yard Sale Treasure Map

May 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I found out about this site in a magazine I was reading recently. Real Simple or ShopSmart, I think? It’s pretty cool if you like scouting for deals at yard sales.

Yard Sale Treasure Map is a planning tool that lets you find  sales near you and plan the most efficient route to hit all of them. It takes all the sales listed on your local Craigslist board and puts them on a map. To use the site, simply type in your city, choose the number of miles you want it to search, and go.

You can even search the sales for particular items, like baby gear. Simply type in what you’re looking for and you’ll see a list of sales that have it.

Add your own stops (lunch! Starbucks!), add sales you found on sources other than Craigslist, and remove any sales that don’t interest you. The final step is to print driving directions of your optimized route.

Pretty cool, huh!? There’s also an app for iPhone and Android (Thanks Amy!).

Related:

Yard Sale Shopping Tips for Pregnant Folks

Filed Under: Baby Gear, Frugal Living, Nursery on a Budget, Shopping Secrets

How-To Tuesday: How to Spend Less. Period.

February 22, 2011 By 6 Comments

Welcome to another How-To Tuesday. Today I’m sharing ways to avoid over-spending on baby products (and everything else).

You’ll find a ton of posts on this blog for items you can buy at big discounts, but the truth is, I don’t want you to buy everything I post on this blog or on the Facebook page. The very first post I ever posted on Baby Cheapskate was called “Don’t Buy It.” That’s because the real secret to saving big bucks on baby stuff is only buying what you need. Of course, that’s like saying that the secret to having a healthy diet is avoiding junk food. Easier said than done, right?

What drives us to buy what we don’t need?

Like overeating, overspending is usually an attempt to fill an emotional need:

  • Retail therapy helps some of us feel in control of those crazy new-baby days. If we can just buy the right product our baby will sleep through the night  / be fully potty-trained by a year old / become a national chess champion at the age of three…. If only it worked that way.
  • Some of us feel like if we’re not giving our kids the latest model of the hottest baby items out there, we’re somehow shortchanging them (or ourselves).  In reality, children need sooo much less than we think they do. They thrive with nothing more than your love and a few other necessities.
  • As a culture, we are rarely content with what we have. We value consumption and competition. We want the best stroller at the playground, but the larger cup holder of the 2011 model really bring you joy?
  • Scoring a bargain often gives us a drug-like thrill (and for up to 5% of the population, shopping is a real addiction). It feels good, but only for a moment. Like devouring a pint of Ben & Jerry’s alone in one sitting, the pleasure quickly replaced by guilt and lowered self-esteem.
  • Some of us shop because we get bored and maybe a little lonely cooped up in the house with a baby. Shopping gives us places to go and people to see.
  • Some us find we’ve bought something on impulse before we’ve had time to think about whether we should. With the added pressure of “buy it now or lose out”, one-day only and flash-sale sites can be a real danger to those already prone to spending impulsively.

So what do you do about it?

Avoiding impulsive and emotional spending is a lot like avoiding impulsive and emotional eating. Here are four techniques that can help:

  • Keep a spending diary, and write down what you spend every time you buy something, no matter how small it is. This forces you to become conscious of what’s actually happening. Write down ALL your purchases for a week. At the end of the week, go through each item on your list and think about how you feel about the purchase now. Do you regret it? Did it make you happy? If it was an impulsive purchase, think about what may have triggered it. Then try to avoid those triggers
  • Realize that you don’t need to be prepared for everything. Let an actual need arise…and then deal with it then.
  • Try to control impulsive spending by refusing to buy anything without a self-imposed “cooling off” period. Try putting the item in your cart and then doing nothing. Wait a few hours (or days) before you buy. This gives you time to think about WHY you want to buy the item.
  • Set goals and post them near your computer or in your wallet along with questions like “Do I really need it?” and “What will happen if I don’t buy it.”

Who was it that said “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”? The same applies to spending. The fleeting high of a purchase pales in comparison with how good it feels to have a healthy bank balance. Choose to spend your money on baby products that are in line with your family’s needs and values rather than on items that will end up sitting in the closet unused.

Readers, share your tips for avoiding unnecessary spending in the comments!

Read More:

Filed Under: Frugal Living, How-To Tuesday, Shopping Secrets

Cheapskate Challenge [& Giveaway]: Bouncing Rocking and Swinging

January 27, 2011 By

Welcome to another Cheapskate Challenge. For the past few weeks we’ve been exploring quality baby product choices for those on a super-tight budget. We’ve covered cribs and accessories and “baby on the go” items. Today we’re talking baby entertainment on the cheap.

Scenario 1: You have $50 to spend on a swing, rocker, and/or bouncy seat (or similar entertainment/soothing item) for a new baby. What do you buy? Why

Scenario 2: You have $100 to spend on a swing, rocker and/or bouncy seat (or similar item for a new baby. What do you buy? Why

Think carefully. Choose items with the highest quality possible rather than simply choosing the cheapest items you can. All items must be new and in stock. Include shipping charges in your total. You can exclude sales tax.

This giveaway is now closed to new entries. Check back later to find out who won! Enter your items for scenario #1 and scenario #2–complete with item names, links, prices and reasons– as a comment below by tomorrow at 5 pm ET.

This challenge is also a giveaway! I’ll select a winner randomly from the comments that meet the criteria I’ve outlined here. The winner will receive a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate. You must be 18 or older to enter. One entry per household.

I’ll share some of your ideas in a post on Monday.

Good luck!

Filed Under: Deals & Sales, Essential Articles, QandA Tagged With:

Baby On the Go: Best Budget Picks for Travel Systems, Carriers & Diaper Bags

January 24, 2011 By 8 Comments

BC’s Cheapskate Challenges explore how to buy the very best baby items you can on a very limited budget. Here are the results of last week’s “Baby on the Go” Cheapskate Challenge.

About the Challenge:

Baby Cheapskate’s 2nd Cheapskate Challenge focused on items babies need when they’re on the go. I Issued the following challenge to readers and asked them to consider the quality of items as well as price:

You’re about to have a baby. You have occasional access to a car, but sometimes you take public transportation and have to walk a few blocks to a bus stop. You need the following (new) items:

  • A versatile stroller that will work for a newborn, but you’d like to be able to use it for at least two years. You don’t plan on buying another stroller until then.
  • An infant car seat.
  • An infant Carrier so that you can wear the baby on occasion.
  • A diaper bag (must include changing pad).

Let’s say you only have $330 (including shipping) to buy these items online today. What do you buy?

I received over 150 responses from readers, and I’ve compiled some of them below. You’ll find many more reader responses to the challenge, including reasons for the items chosen, in the comments here.

Reader Picks: (Mix and match to fit your lifestyle and budget:)

Note: I decided to list non-sale prices below to give this post some longevity. You should be able to find most of these items at significantly lower sale or closeout prices. In fact, some of the items were more than 50% off at the time of this writing. For that reason, I recommended looking at all of the options on the lists before you rule any out.

To save up to 50%, consider gently used items (except the car seat). Check your local consignment shop, consignment sales, Craigslist and other sources.

Travel Systems: Buying your infant car seat and stroller together as a travel system can save you money. Reader faves:

Note: If possible, upgrade to an infant car seat with a higher weight limit. If you look hard enough, you can find most of the Graco systems with the Snugride 35 instead of the 22. Expect the cost to be a bit higher.

Other stroller picks (Buy car seat separately. Make sure it’s compatible with your stroller)

Baby Carriers: $30 to $105

Even cheaper: Make your own Moby wrap using one of the tutorials online (just Google “Moby Wrap Tutorial”). No sewing necessary.

Diaper Bags: $20 to $55

Even cheaper: Skip the diaper bag in favor of a bag you already own. Time to bring that college backpack out of retirement!

My Picks:

My picks for the best budget buys, based on price, availability, product features, and reader reviews:

At current prices, I could pick up all of the above from Amazon for as little as $195.06 , shipped. Sweet!

***

So what do you think about my picks and about the other items on the list? Leave a comment!

Related: Crib, Mattress, and Accessories for Under $350? Here’s How

Filed Under: Deals & Sales, Essential Articles, QandA Tagged With:

Cheapskate Challenge [and Giveaway!]: Baby On the Go

January 20, 2011 By

Welcome to another Cheapskate Challenge.

Here’s today’s scenario:

You’re an average-sized woman about to have a baby. You have occasional access to a car, but sometimes you take public transportation and have to walk a few blocks to a bus stop. You need the following items:

  • A versatile stroller that will work for a newborn, but you’d like to be able to use it for at least two years. You don’t plan on buying another stroller until then.
  • An infant car seat.
  • An infant Carrier so that you can wear the baby on occasion.
  • A diaper bag (must include changing pad).

Let’s say you only have $330 (including shipping) to buy these items online today. What do you buy?

As of 1/21 at 5 pm ET, this giveaway is closed to new entries. Congrats to Annika! Think carefully. Choose items with the highest quality possible rather than simply choosing the cheapest items you can. All items must be new and in stock. Include shipping charges in your total. You can exclude sales tax.

Enter your list–complete with item names, links, prices and reasons– as a comment below by tomorrow at 5 pm ET.

This challenge is also a giveaway! I’ll select a winner randomly from the comments that meet the criteria I’ve outlined here. The winner will receive a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate. You must be 18 or older to enter. One entry per household.

I’ll share some of your ideas in a post on Monday.

Good luck!

See the results of last week’s Cheapskate Challenge: Crib and Accessories for $350.

Filed Under: Deals & Sales, Essential Articles, QandA Tagged With:
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