Jul
3
2009
If you cannot afford maternity coverage, your maternity coverage isn’t very good, or are already pregnant and therefore cannot add maternity coverage, here is the first of my top 3 suggestions for ways to find baby bargains for maternity and delivery. Talk to the hospital financial office. Many hospitals offer payment plans or even sliding scales based on your income. Most people don’t even know they are available so they are not often utilized.
Jul
2
2009
I’ve decided to experiment with a daily tip posted to my blog. Some of this has been discussed in some form probably close to a year ago. I’m just going to start at the beginning and share various bargain tips and advice. Here’s today’s tip…
Talk to your employer about adding short-term disability insurance prior to getting pregnant. Many work-based policies cover 6 weeks for vaginal delivery and 8 weeks for c-section if you deliver 10 months after taking out the policy. This works for normal, healthy pregnancies and is not sickness, complication, or emergency based. But it is also good to have in place if you do end up with complications prior to delivery and for example get put on bed rest. They are fairly inexpensive and if you add this policy right before getting pregnant you will definitely come out ahead. These plans often pay in addition to any sick or vacation time you have saved up so this is great extra help to pay for hospital bills. The bad news is that if you are already pregnant it is probably too late.
Jul
1
2009
Have you ever heard of a Mom 2 Mom sale? Apparently this has become quite popular in the Detroit area. I imagine with all the layoffs in the automobile industry it has forced some creativity to take place.
Here’s the idea:
You organize moms with kids outgrowing clothes and toys to gather together. It works sort of like a cross between a yard sale and a flea market. A local church or school hosts the event. They charge $10-$20 to rent a table and $1 admission to the sale-goers. A very simple concept and great way to provide bargains to new moms & dads from other moms & dads.
Consider organizing a Mom 2 Mom sale in your commuity.
Jun
30
2009
Yesterday we discussed the first 5 ways of “10 Ways to save Big on Baby Stuff”. Today we will finish the list beginning with…
6. Negotiating Baby Bargains
You’ve heard it said before…”Everything’s negotiable!” Well, in the case of baby bargains it’s true. You will NEVER have to pay full price for any of the baby stuff you need if you do it right. If you choose to do so that is your option, but there is always room for negotiation. For some reason, American are timid when it comes to this. Most other cultures around the world find negotiation to be a normal part of life. For some helpful tips to get you started negotiating consult a well-written guide (hint…hint) like our Ultimate Baby Bargain Guide.
7. Ask yourself – do I really need to get this item brand new?
In most cases the answer is a resounding no. The only two things that come to mind for buying new would be a breast pump (for hygiene reasons) and a car seat (based on expert recommendations as to the unknown history of a used car seat and its subsequent safety should it be involved in an accident). Everything else is perfectly fine being used. Clothes and toys are two of my biggest pet peeves. DO NOT waste your money buying brand new clothes your baby will only wear a few times before outgrowing. Used for the first year is essential in my opinion. DO NOT waste your money buying the latest baby toys that your baby will grow tired of in a matter of minutes if she even plays with it at all. Accept the toys you get as gifts and the rest you can fill in with household items like pots, pans, bowls, spoons, etc that your baby will find fascinating. For a a tremendous resource on finding used items consult a well-written guide (hint…hint) like our Ultimate Baby Bargain Guide.
8. We furnished our nursery for less than $100 – You can too!
Furniture is what of the single largest expenses. If you buy a crib, dresser, changing table glider/rocker with matching ottoman – watch out! One strategy is go minimal and just skip some of these pieces you can really live without. The other, and my preferred strategy, is to find all the secret locations in your area to get bargains on used baby furniture. We got all of that for less than $100 including painting and decorating. You can create your own plan when you consult a well-written guide (hint…hint) like our Ultimate Baby Bargain Guide.
9. Look at the big picture.
Is this your first baby? Do you plan to have more? Here is one example…Maybe that convertible crib you are looking into isn’t really that great of a deal because you are going to have to go out and buy another crib with your next child. Do you even really need a “toddler bed”? We say no. Go straight from the crib to a twin bed. All you need is a safety rail on one side and the wall on the other and you can skip the extra expense of a toddler bed altogether. Keep this in mind as you look at all your purchases. How will they be used today, next month, next year?
10. Don’t forget about baby showers.
Hopefully you will be fortunate enough to have a close friend, family member, co-worker, and/or church member throw you a shower or two. It is OK to put a couple of high-priced items on your baby registry because some may like to spend a little more or go in together on a big item, but for the most part try to keep items in the $15-$30 range as a good gift average. Include some little items for those that need to spend a little extra to meet what they like to spend on a gift. But the great thing is you don’t have to buy everything. You will get a large number of gifts from these showers. If you have a friend say that would love to throw you a shower, but don’t know where to start…you will receive as a bonus to the Ultimate Baby Bargain Guide Platinum Package the Ultimate Baby Shower Guide. Feel free to share this with your friend to get them started in the right direction.
You can purchase the Ultimate Baby Bargain Guide here.
Jun
29
2009
Are you pregnant? Thinking of getting pregnant?…but scared to death of the overwhelming expense of all the STUFF you need to get for your baby. Well, never fear, MommyDaddySavers.com is here!
1. Need vs. Want
Learn the difference between what you need and what you want. You know all those lists you see floating around the Internet for everything you need for your baby? Well forget them. Most have tons of useless stuff or stuff you won’t need for months and months down the road. For help sorting out what is what ask friends and family what they used or could have done without or consult a well-written guide (hint…hint) like our Ultimate Baby Bargain Guide.
2. Start shopping early
I saw a list recently that said to hold off on shopping as long as you can because if you start early you’ll spend more money. Awful advice! Waiting until the last minute only adds stress and then you are stuck paying full price for something you need now! Start early, create a plan, and stick to it. By starting early you will have time to monitor price levels and search out the very best deals. If you don’t know where to find the best deals for baby stuff consult a well-written guide (hint…hint) like our Ultimate Baby Bargain Guide.
3. Don’t let new baby fever take hold!
It can be very dangerous shopping when you have new baby fever. Generally either mom or dad catches the baby fever while the other one sees the dollar signs involved. Make sure the one with baby fever doesn’t go shopping alone. Additionally, work on creating a bargain mindset before you ever set foot in a store. For tips on having a bargain mindset consult a well-written guide (hint…hint) like our Ultimate Baby Bargain Guide. (Do you see the recurring theme here…ha!)
4. Don’t be a sales clerk victim.
Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, places like Wal-Mart generally have awful customer service so you are not in any danger of being upsold there. But when you get into the specialty baby stores you get better service…which often results in more $$ leaving your hand and flowing into the store. Know what you want before you go so you don’t need to ask for help. How do you know what you need? Simply consult a well-written guide (hint…hint) like our Ultimate Baby Bargain Guide.
5. Study All Your Options…
Is the bargain option truly a bargain? In most cases yes, but in some cases no so look carefully before buying. It could be that the bargain item ends up costing more due to replacement parts every few months. Or it could be that the package includes everything you need whereas the bargain item, by the time you add the additional add-on items, ends up costing you more. Study the options available to you and make the best choice.
We will continue these thoughts tomorrow. Until then, all the best. And if you want to go ahead and purchase the Ultimate Baby Bargain Guide you may do so by clicking here.
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