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A baby is on the way, and you can’t stop stressing about the upcoming shift in financial priorities. Gone are the days of buying designers purses just because you can. Now you long for the designer diaper bag. Don’t fret! Babies are undoubtedly expensive, but if you follow a few tips on how to save big on baby gear, you’ll be able to enjoy the precious moments, free of stress.

5 Simple Ways to Save on Baby Gear

Become a Club Member
When you are expecting a little one, the sheer volume of baby products you need may seem daunting, but most children’s stores offer savings clubs. If you’re buying all new products for the first time, find a store you like with a savings club. Most department stores will allow you to accumulate points for your purchases, and then you can use these points later on additional children’s items or even that new outfit you’ve been eyeing for yourself. Do some research and hopefully, the store you love has a club of its own!

Buy Gently Used
Many great deals can be found in consignment stores as well as online retailers. The difference with consignment stores is that you will be able to see a product and analyze its condition whereas online retailers typically give buyer beware warnings. What’s great is you can save more than half of what you would spend if you purchased a product brand new. For large items like cribs and strollers, this could slice your costs considerably. Swap.com is an online consignment store that does the look over for you AND offers a return policy.

Register Your Baby
It’s easy enough but signing up for a baby registry is an amazing way to notify friends and relatives what you need. This allows people who view your registry to divide up gifts that you actually want as well as ensuring there are no duplicate gifts bought. Unless you have twins, getting two new car seats is a waste, so it’s great for people to see what others have already arranged to buy. Registering your baby can turn your baby shower from a hectic assortment of gift receipts into the gifts you wanted all along. Plus some place like Amazon will send you a box of freebies for you baby. Other like Target will send you coupons after your due date for 10 – 20% off items still on your registry.

Shop with a Brain
Create a list of things that your baby will definitely need. Feel free to stock up on items such as diapers, wipes, and bottles. They don’t expire and will inevitably be used. Don’t get caught up in buying the latest gadgets and outfits. Babies grow fast, and all those Gucci outfits you bought for your newborn won’t fit in a few months. It’s best to buy what you need for your baby’s life stage but not to overbuy. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself spending your life’s savings, just to keep your child clothed and secure. Plus many items you THINK you might need won't even make it out of the box. Check out my 6 items you do not need to buy for baby. Plus before you buy, check out these 11 awesome baby freebies you can snag! It might save you from buying things like that boppy pillow!

Out with the Old
As your child grows out of things like jumpers, bouncers, clothing and toys, resell what items you can. It’s easy to set up an EBay or Craigslist account to rid yourself of used items in a short period of time. You might even have some friends willing to trade items. Use your community to find the best receptacle for your old items. This is an excellent way to get rid of clutter around your home, and you’ll make some extra money at the same time. This is also another reason I love Swap.com as my kids outgrow stuff we can sell it and use the money to get them the stuff they need.

Whether you are having your first or even your fourth child, saving money on baby items is a necessity and an art you’ll learn to perfect. It’s all about having a keen eye and staying within your own budget. There’s no reason you can’t enjoy a good life without breaking the bank, and with these tips, it’ll be smooth sailing.