https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 28 May 2026 13:25:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2419110 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 17:23:40 +0000 gingerbebe 2419110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 16 months and we have spent very little on clothing or toys for him because he's received SO many gifts. My mother also finds it fun to make him clothes, so he has many grandma outfits. </p> <p>If I do buy anything, I always get then from Kohl's during some sale + 30% off coupon + $10 off $30 kids purchase + free shipping deal and its the same or cheaper as consignment. </p> <p>I extreme couponed when I was pregnant with DS and got 6 months worth of diapering and organic baby food pouches for under $200 or something ridiculous like that. I don't know that we'll have the time to do that again for DS2, but we will save a ton just from reusing all his brother's hand me downs. </p> <p>DS doesn't go to any paid activities or classes yet. We bought a house a street over from the park, we use a friend's pool in the summer, there's a public splash pad 1/2 mile a way, and he plays at home or at church nursery on Sundays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418920 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:32:37 +0000 sapphire 2418920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't buy clothes - snag stuff up from my local Buy Nothing group. Won't work forever but super helpful during the changing sizes every 3 months. Same with gear - borrow or look for free. I also don't buy many toys- got a lot of hand me downs and grandparents have contributed a lot. Borrow books from the library. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418857 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:01:54 +0000 catlady 2418857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Clothes and toys- only buy used or on extreme sale (like 70% off or more)</p> <p>Diapers and wipes - Use amazon subscribe and save, plus combo with coupons when available and watch prices on several brands to switch to lower one when it makes sense</p> <p>Activities - We have memberships to a museum and an aquarium, and they paid for themselves within two trips each so now we go "free" all the time. Also use the library and playgrounds alot.</p> <p>Food - She usually eats off our plates when we go out. At home, we don't make special kids meals ever. She has a couple favorite snacks and I buy in bulk when on sale. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418853 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:59:35 +0000 pwnstar 2418853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: This may or may not be the shoe situation for my LO! :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418849 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:56:11 +0000 ElbieKay 2418849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We get a lot of hand-me-downs from friends. My parents also buy a lot of clothes for my son. We buy Kirkland brand diapers and wipes from Costco. And my retired parents watch my son two afternoons per week which cuts 20% off our childcare costs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418729 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:07:18 +0000 snowjewelz 2418729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stock up on diapers and wipes when there are great deals</p> <p>Get hand me downs and buy used as much as possible </p> <p>We all eat the same stuff more or less so we're not buying separate/extra groceries</p> <p>Def look for free things to do on weekends too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418703 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 13:52:20 +0000 Truth Bombs 2418703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Facebook resale groups usually have shoes in much better shape than consignment shops. Some people are insane for the higher end brands like Livie and Luca or Saltwater Sandals and they buy their kids like ten pairs of shoes in the same size so each pair gets very little wear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418697 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 13:50:08 +0000 Alivoo01 2418697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Shirt is like $4 and pants are $3? I like Carter's for kid clothes, and hit up their clearance racks all the time for about that cost. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418687 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 13:44:23 +0000 Corduroy 2418687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We buy used as much as possible. I set up craigslist alerts when I know I have gear needs coming. Christmas presents were all used too although DD might notice by next Christmas. She specifically commented that the gift from her aunt came 'in a box!'</p> <p>I also try to use memberships smartly. We'll buy a membership if it makes going free. I don't like when there is still a parking fee or crazy food prices that I have to pay on top of the membership. We also make use of reciprocal membership discounts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418660 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 13:27:02 +0000 Cherrybee 2418660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I buy most of her clothes from the local supermarket! I splash out on shoes though. </p> <p>I splash out on activities because I work FT and only hang out with her at the weekends, but we save by using family fir 3/5 of her childcare and hardly ever hire a sitter. </p> <p>We stock up on wipes, favourite snacks etc when they're on offer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418651 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 13:25:20 +0000 Bao 2418651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alivoo01: Oh really?! What does say, a long sleeve shirt or pair of pants go for at consignment? Although I will agree Target for example has some good deals on their basic shirts and leggings, and sometimes it is a better deal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418639 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 13:19:17 +0000 Alivoo01 2418639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I keep an eye out for deals on diapers and wipes and load up when the deal is awesome.</p> <p>We share/he eats off of my plate when we eat out. Kid meals are crazy expensive unless you go on a "kids eat free" day.</p> <p>Buy used toys off of online garage sale sites. </p> <p>@Bao: I've been to a few consignment shops and used clothing tends to be about the same price as brand new clothes, which is frustrating. Then again, I don't buy anything retail and wait for sales and use coupons also. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/where-do-you-try-and-save#post-2418564 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 12:43:45 +0000 Bao 2418564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How do you cut costs/save money for things your LO needs? </p> <p>Some things we do are: </p> <p>Cloth diaper (this saves us a ton!)<br /> Buy used clothes-I find a lot of great name brands at our local kids consignment shop, in style and some things are brand new. The only thing I don't find in good condition used is shoes, so I usually "splurge" on those.<br /> Free Activities- We try and do free activities like the library, park, etc since activities can really add up. We do go out and do things, but it's not on a weekly, or even monthly basis. </p> <p>I know we do more than this, but raising kids is expensive so we try and save some money where we can, without sacrificing too much. </p>