Money-Wise Mondays - shopping for used baby gear.

   Having a new baby doesn't have to break the bank. The trick is to know what items to purchase brand new and high quality and what items can be acquired used. A lot of people are hesitant to purchase anything used for their precious children in fear that it won't be "nice" enough. But for the most part, babies and little kids don't wear out many of the items that they use. Because of that, many big ticket items can be acquired used for fraction of the original cost. The trick is knowing where to shop for these items, how to shop for them and which items you should buy new.

   For the most part things that can be acquired used are clothing, baby swings,bouncy seats, high chairs, play yards, toys, books, and baby bathtubs. The items you should skip buying used are most safety items. Things like cribs should be purchased new since they could have been recalled and you might not know about that. Also car seats should always be purchased new since you will have no idea if they have ever been in an accident. Even a small accident can weaken the frame and put your child at risk. So unless you know the person giving/selling you the item (as in it's a close friend or a family member) purchase it brand new. Another thing to add to the car seat topic is that they have expiry date on them (for most it's 6 to 9 years), and you should not use it past it's expiry date, even if it has not been used very often.

   Another thing that you should skip buying used are intimate things like underpants, or cloth diapers. Some people don't mind selling off their kids' used cloth diapers but for me it's the "yuck" factor that prevents me from using something on my baby that another baby pooped into. It's a personal choice and I know that there are parents out there who don't mind.

   Another items that I would always choose to buy new are safety equipment, like stair gates, door latches, outlet covers, etc. The reason is that the used ones will rarely have instructions with them, plus I have no idea if they are missing parts or are malfunctioning. Better buy those new and be sure of their function.

   So for the things that are great purchased used what are some places that they can be acquired? For clothing, local kids swap meets, garage sales, and Ebay have been my places to go. When buying on Ebay look for "lot" sale, which means many items in the same size. For example "size 9 month girl lot" could include 4+ outfits that are in size 9 months for a baby girl. Garage sales are also great, and you can often pick up lots of clothes for very little money. When I buy from garage sales I often purchase things in larger sizes too and store them in storage boxed until needed. Swap meets usually happen twice a year in local venue and are usually advertised in local papers. These are really great, not only for clothing but also for bigger items, like ride on toys, and high chairs. Make sure that going into one of them you know what that item will cost you new, since some people will overcharge for used item. If a high chair at local Baby r us is going to cost 150 dollars, but on sale it will be only 80, you might want to be careful of spending 75 dollars on used one. Some people will try to talk you into buying it based on the fact that they spent 150 dollars on the item originally. Always keep in mind how much it would cost you on sale to purchase that item, rather than what the original owner spent on it.

   For big ticket baby items there are many other places to go and check out besides kids swap meets. Local Craigslist, and Kijiji, toy trader stores, and consignment places are all great. Be aware that these all operate on "first come, first get it" principle, so if you see that 300 dollar jogging stroller on Craigslist for 75 dollars and you make arrangements to pick it up in 4 days someone might come tomorrow and swipe it from under your nose. It's best to look for items you are ready to go and pick up right away. There is also nothing wrong with trying to bring down the price. If a person has a high chair listed for 80 dollars, there is no harm in seeing if they will take 70 instead. The worse thing they can do is to say no. So why not try to save more.
   One note of caution about buying used is that you are purchasing in "as is" condition, so it's really important that you inspect the items before you exchange any money. Make sure that the item is as described in the ad and that you are happy with it. If it's not, it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to walk away, but maybe ask for some money off as long as the functionality of the item has not been compromised.
Happy bargain hunting ... and remember, saving money can be addictive.