Inflation and the rising cost of living is on everyone's mind now. This afternoon, I got a nasty shock when I saw that the usual Seng Choon eggs I buy cost $4 at NTUC. The same carton of eggs used to cost around $3+ last year. Caifan that used to cost me $3.50-$5 is now $5-$6.50. Not to mention mortgage rates, petrol prices, water and electricity prices... I'm really squeezed in virtually all aspects of my life.
As first-time parents, it is easy to blow a lot of money buying things for the baby. I'm always mindful about how much I'm paying for baby things, so Ive decided to put together a list of ways in which I've saved money on baby stuff.
1. Getting hand-me-down clothes, toys, and books.
I am fortunate to have kind relatives who have given me many preloved clothes, books, and toys. (I also received many gifts for baby shortly after I delivered). I didn't actually buy any clothes or toys for bub in the first few months and only finally caved during the year-end sales when there were deals that were too good to pass up. I also paid it forward by passing on our preloved baby items to other friends or colleagues after bub no longer had use for them.
2. Shopping on carousell
Whenever I want to purchase a big-ticket item, I look on carousell first to see if there are second hand ones in very good condition. Here are some of my most-used and best value items I purchased on carousell that easily saved me hundreds of dollars--
Silver Cross Devon Dresser (changing table cum drawer)- bought for $200 (RRP $560 @ Mothercare). This is an "atas" brand that uses solid wood, so even though it had been used for 2 yrs by the previous owner, it is still in great condition and has been serving me very well.
Spectra S9+ breast pump- bought for $30 (RRP ~$249 @ Mummysmarket). I bought just the pump secondhand and purchased the rest of the flanges/bottles/tubings/backflow protectors brand new on Lazada. Make sure to check for the correct model and/or year of purchase to make sure that what you're buying isn't too "old". Case in point: Before I purchased the S9+, I bought a S9 for $20, having done only minimal research. It worked well for 3 months, but soon became wonky. I then realised I had purchased an older version of the pump that was manufactured in 2017. If I had done better research upfront, I would have saved myself $20 and the trouble of finding a new pump!
Nuna Mixx stroller - bought for $380 (RRP~ $1399 on pramfox). My hubby wanted a sturdy and easy-to-maneuver stroller, and decided on the brand Nuna, which is expensive but very good. I balked at the original retail price. Thankfully, he found a seller who hardly used the stroller. It wasn't the newest model and didn't come with the latest magnetic seatbelt clasp, but that was not important to me. Although with $380, you could buy a brand new stroller from another brand, the Nuna stroller is really stable and comfortable for bub. This is by far the best value second hand purchase I've made.
3. Skipping the atas brands when you can- DYOD before buying!
一分钱，一分货
While it is true that you get what you pay for, there are some things where you don't have to always choose the "atas" or best option. It's good to ask around for friends or relatives' experience, or read reviews online. Some examples--
Ikea lattsam bathtub- bought for $15.90. My husband and I were really attracted to the stokke bathtub because it folds and drains from the bottom. However, purchasing the entire set brand new (bath tub+ insert + bath tub stand) would set us back $200+, and I could not find a second hand set in good condition. Later, I spoke with a relative who used the stokke bathtub and stand who recommended against it, as it posed a fall risk when her baby got strong enough to move around in the tub and shake it in its stand! While she did say that the tub is still good to use the on the floor or on top of a sink, it didn't make sense to pay $100+ for a plastic tub. We finally settled on a no-frills ikea bathtub, which is cheap, durable, and does its job. No regrets with this purchase!
Milk powder- We used nature one dairy brand, which is ~$30 per can, compared to other brands that are $50 and up. Nature one dairy actually manufactures the Fairprice house brand, so you can be assured of its quality. Sgbudgetbabe wrote an in-depth article some years ago comparing the nutritional contents and prices of different infant milk brands, which is still very relevant today. Check out her blogpost here.
But we've since saved on milk powder costs because...
4. Breastfeeding/ Expressed breastmilk
After an initial rocky phase of being a low-supply mummy where I had to supplement with formula milk, my milk supply has stabilised even after returning to work full-time. Of course, there are lots of "hidden costs" of breast-feeding, like the need for a breast pump + parts, time spent breastfeeding/ pumping, and dealing with engorgement. However, there are also many benefits- it has helped me maintain my pre-pregnancy weight, is ultra nutritious for bub, and calms down a fussy/ overtired/ sleepy bub.
Having a baby in your family is naturally going to inflate one's expenses, but I do my best to make conscious choices to save money while not compromising on quality.
Note: I may update this post if I remember new ways in which I've saved money.
Image credit: Iconsy from Canva
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