MSE Pregnancy Club 17

BudgetBlonde

redstararnie76 wrote: »

kitkat5566 wrote: »

Guna try looking on ebay, and bootsales; there are some items that i just have to hav, and i think buying new might be too expensive. I really want a bouncy chair that plays music and vibrates, and a automatic swing (I blame u lot for this as u ravved about them now I MUST have one!) :rotfl:
QUOTE]

Definitely try ebay for those sort of things and search by distance, as it's often the postage that works out expensive - I've just managed to get a vibrating/music playing bouncy chair that;'s meant to be barely used for £7.50, which I'm really delighted about - new, it's supposed to be about £45, and you can only use them until the baby can sit unaided which won't be that long. I'm picking it up at the weekend.

Now I want one! :rotfl:

freebiequennie

kitkat5566 wrote: »

Collected my free Boots changing bag last night; it isn't too bad. It seems HUGE though but I have no idea how big a changing bag is tho :rotfl:still fancy the Paul Frank one tho but OH told me to get this for now as its FREE and maybe if we have any money left wen we bought baby stuff get one (although judging by my trusty spreadsheet of items I need/ want its not looking good, as they come to a huge sum without even allowing for pram/ cot!)

Have found a changing unit in work tho that I can have for £15 that is solid wood with shelves, pretty much same as toys r us ones v MSE :money:

Guna try looking on ebay, and bootsales; there are some items that i just have to hav, and i think buying new might be too expensive. I really want a bouncy chair that plays music and vibrates, and a automatic swing (I blame u lot for this as u ravved about them now I MUST have one!) :rotfl:

Just got my free Sainsburys thing to collect (have no idea wot is it!) when buying nappies so I will get that Tues, am waiting for my Tescos voucher :mad: grr they're taking their time!

Sainsburys mum to be bundle is best freebie I have had so far from baby clubs go before the 1/3 off finishes on baby stuff on wed, you need to buy a pack of newborn huggies but there should also be £1 off voucher in your pack you can use that as well, also should be £1 off voucher for huggies wipes the pure ones are £1.63 i think when a 1/3 off making them 63p voucher!

bexta

LilSis, thanks! I am getting a bit ahead of myself with the fireguard/stairguard, but I figured they're the kind of thing that pops up at car boots quite cheaply.

I have got a few clothes, definately need a few more bits though, just to tide us over until bubs is here and we know what it is, and how big (tiddler or chunk). Deffo need a tummy time mat/ blanket of some sort that I can fold up to keep the cats off. I know it won't be long before bubs is trying to eat the cats though, and bang'll go that idea!

It's from you guys that I got the idea of the magic chair, although a couple of my little cousins have had them and they've been raved about.

Gillby - yay for finishing work. I know what you mean about trying to sneak out though. Hope you have a yummy tea to celebrate.

freebiequennie

Bexta also look at www.gumtree.com - click onto your local area and look on the for sale section at baby items usually some good deals to be found on there, also try www.netmums.co.uk sign up to local area (its free) and there is a for sale board on there (also a free board which is worth a look).

Some people swear by freecycle I havent had much luck have given away alot over the last few years but nothing baby related comes up in my area and wanted ads never seem to work.

CAFCGirl

got measured for maternity bras today and apparently havent changed size at all, DH refuses to believe it LOL, so all i can think is my old bras have shrunk because ive popping out the sides and top of them...
Woman who measured me in mothercare was blooming awful as well, I just asked her on the shopfloor if they did fitting and she made a big song and dance about how she was on tills. ended up being her that measured me and she HAD A GO at me for wearing an underwired bra. I pointed out that most days i dont wear one coz im in the house, but since ive come out, had to put one on and its the only one that fits....

After that decided i wasnt gonna buy any LOL especially not at £22 for 2 essentially just non underwired bras! So went to m&s and got 2 for £12, much nicer as well....

Picked up what we'll be using as our changing bag as well. I just havent found a changing bag i like, so me and dh agreed on an old school adidas messenger bag to use, so hes happy to carry it too w're both a bit indie so it suits us.....

this is the 3rd time ive written this out and lost it so hopefully it posts this time!

MYLITTLESISTERLOLA

Bexta is this your 1st, if so you'll be very surprised just how many clothes you get as gifts, I would buy the bear minimum of basics. Your right about the stair guard / fireguard, you can be lucky enough to get these at bootsales although I would say fireguards in particular seem to be a bit of a rareity so if you see one grab it.

I made my ideal list by going though the mothercare book and making my list including rrp then when I seen something at the bootsale I knew how much it would be full rrp.

I am a regular bootsaler, being going weekly for the last 8 or so years ( some would say I'm addicted ) I even sell occasionally.

It is truely astonishing what you can pick up and for how little
sleeping bags seem to be one of the best bargains ( if your happy buying 2nd hand which I am ) usually £1 or £2 each instead of £20 in m/c

Sterlisiers are a dime a dozen usually at £1 or £2 for either electric or microwave

Moses basket / crib or cot / cot bed sheets can be pick up for less than £1 each

Cozy toes can be another bargain I've picked up 4 ( for family members )costing £1 each

Maclaren strollers would get my vote usually cost £100 new but £15ish at bootsale, very practical and sturdy

I picked up a tummy tub for £3 last week ( not sure about this but I'll give it a go )

Inflatable boosters normally retail at £16 can be picked up for £1 ( cost £10 + on ebay )

I've picked up two bouncer chairs ( M&P + Chicco ) for £3 each

Monitors are also quite common depending on what type you like ( never seen any video monitors )

Bumbo seat normally £4ish

Sorry for the epic post thought it might help some bootsale virgins

Also sorry for any spelling grammer errors, I've been up most of the night !

bexta

LilSis, yeah it's my 1st (OH 2nd, but he's nearly 19) I'm not at all fussed by 2nd hand, although some of my colleagues have looked somewhat freaked out when I've said this. Seriously, they know how much we get paid, so I can't understand the fussiness. That's a good idea about making a price list though for comparing whether somethings 'worth it' or not.

1more?

mlsl some bargains you have had there, my mother is the bootsale queen even thou she isnt talking to me now she will still buy for bubs as she cant resist (she likes to play games)
some of you may remember my lil sis had a baby back in nov when i was just preggers well she phoned me the other day and offered me anything i want to use i can just give back once ive finished as she wants more babies :j:j:j:j:j im so pleased she has everything bouncers, swings, carseat, moses baskets and blankets bath and boy clothes if bubs turns out to be a girl now im gonna ask for a refund:rotfl:
my sis has just saved me a small fortune

kindof i just read your birth story - glad elliot is ok now he looks so big in hospital such a cutie x

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Ok - not read everything as thought i'd better post before i forget:

Kitkat - Vertbaudet are truly carp at deliveries and putting orders through. BUT there stuff is utterly gorgeous and REALLY good quality - ANOTHER BUT, only ever order from them using a discount code, and get them from hotukdeals.com Usually £15 off a £20 spend are the only ones i use for DD's gorgeous summer dresses. And Hotukdeals will tell you if the code is up to date or not!

Bexta - Try searching ebay for the likes of the swing and bouncy chairs, but a good way to keep the price right down is search in terms of nearest distance to you, so anything nearby you can pick up yourself (plus if you live in a village like me you'll really pick up a bargain as not many people travel out to collect something ). I bought a infant to toddler rocker, £50 in argos i believe, for about £6 quid in immaculate condition and the lady even dropped it round for us :T. Also i got a rainforest cot mobile, again really expensive in argos for a couple of pound and that lady came to town to give it to me which was really nice. Also i bought my steriliser brand new (TommeeTippie microwave one) on ebay for £10 inc the postage - same with my Avent breast pump. And to make it all better i funded it all by selling all of DD's baby clothes that i had kept in hope of another girl.

And don't forget Friday-Ad online or paper, i have got some real bargains on there. Our Bumbo cost just £10 for a brand new one in the box :T

I feel i have also done a nice thing today - i listed DD's cot mattress on friday ad as free to collector (our cot now is wrong size or i'd have kept it), it was immaculate and an Amicor Pure sprung one which is blimmin expensive in mothercare - and a lovely young couple with their baby came to pick it up. I explained to put a mattress protector for the SIDS thing and the guy said he knew already and just was very very grateful for it. I have just sorted some pink sheets for it and i'll call tomorrow and see if he wants them too. It feels good to do a good deed and see it so appreciated!:)

Hope you ladies are all well though! x And i'm hoping to get a spare 10 to go off and read Kindofs birth story - please warn me first if its scary though, lol! x

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

BTW some things i'm a little fussy on being new (don't know why because i can't justify it) so have paid a little extra for. I.e, like the breastpump/reusable nappies/steriliser/mattress - i still got em all for a massive bargain but if your not as fussed about new stuff you can get seriously low bargains like breastpump or sterilisers for £3 or so I have also seen the likes of carseats and cot mattresses, and even cots go for just 99p if your willing to pick em up. Might be worth a good search on Ebay - babies are only as expensive as you make em Goverment figures are utter nonsense if you're a true bargain hunter, lol! x