In order to produce the podcast and keep content up free for you, I work with partners so this post may contain affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure for more info.
Decorating Your Nursery
Our next project to tackle for the baby's arrival is getting the nursery ready. This morning it's a bit like a construction zone as my husband is stalling a ceiling fan and light plus we have all these boxes fill with stuff that we're donating or mailing to a relative.
Preparing a nursery does involve getting some new pieces of furniture and baby gear. Since this is our first time, I went ahead and check out a few sources to get an idea of the expenses for the baby.
Nursery Gear – Costs
I wrote earlier this year on Five Cent Nickel that we're preparing as best we can financially for the baby's arrival. I looked for estimates on some baby furniture and this is what I found:
- Crib ($120 – $850)
- Changing Table ($80 – $250)
- Rocker ($189 – $600)
- Bassinet ($50 – $260)
- Hamper ($20 – $60)
- Mobile ($20 – $55)
- Dresser ($80 – $500)
- Baby Monitor ($40 – $60)
These numbers are from The Bump and Baby Center and they aren't including other recurring expenses such as diapers. Needless to say, just these few items can add up fairly quickly. To keep costs low and still get good quality items for our baby we turned to resources like Consumer Reports.
Cheaper Alternatives for Your Baby Nursery Supplies
You don't have to go broke to create a welcoming place for your baby. Don't feel pressured to buy all new items if you don't want to. Your focus should be getting high quality items at a reasonable price.
That's our goal as we search for baby gear in the nursery. Here are a few options you have so you can decorate in style within a budget.
Family/Friends Hand Me Downs
Family and friends have been generous with sharing some baby clothes and toys that their children outgrew. The nursery already has a closet full of clothes.
Yard Sales
With the weather warming up slowly, I'm noticing more and more yard sales popping up on the weekends. If you're willing to haggle, you can find some great treasures. Try and remember these tips when you’re hunting for some furniture.
- Have your shopping list handy. Don't get distracted and buy more stuff – be focused on what you need for the baby's nursery. You'll save money and you'll avoid cluttering up your place.
- Go early in the day to find a good deal. You may be able to snag a great sale by beating the crowds.
- If you buy more than one item, see if you can get a ‘bundle’ discount. It doesn’t hurt to ask the seller and you may walk away with what you need in fewer trips.
- Double check the furniture’s condition. It doesn't pay to save money if the quality is shoddy. Look for like new condition on items that you'll be using for a while.
- Bring cash with you. Don't make the seller hold items until you come back later in the day after you got money. Have the cash on hand and be ready to tote your stuff away.
Craigslist
Can you find some great deals on Craigslist and have good quality pieces? I decided to find out this weekend by hunting for a few different items.There are plenty of parents willing to part with baby gear at very good prices if you're not too picky.
Thoughts on Nursery Costs
What about those who've been through this before, how did you decorate your baby nursery? Were you able to find some great deals and bargains? What would you recommend getting new and what could you feel comfortable getting used?
Join In the Baby Expenses Series
Are you a parent or a parent to be with some helpful advice or stories? Please go ahead and join in on the fun, there are 3 ways you can be a part of it:
- Leave your tips in the comment section. I love reviewing thoughtful comments from readers. Some topics have several ‘right’ answers and I think sharing different view points can be helpful.
- Submit your stories for future posts. As you know, baby and expenses can cover a variety of topics. If you have a short story or some tips you want to share, please submit them. If you’re a blogger, please share your site’s address with the email so I can credit you if you want.
- Write a blog post about your experience. Please include a link in your bio for your site and if you have a relevant post on your site, please link to it in your post.
Thank you to those who have participated already. I look forward to sharing stories, tips, and advice from others here.
Photo Credit: melindarp