Everyday Cheapskate

Welcoming a new child into the family is a joyous occasion for all, but the additional expense associated with a new bundle of joy can be a big worry for some parents, especially in this economy. A recent survey found that the average American family spends a whopping $2,577 on baby-related items when a new baby comes home.

Luckily, there are plenty of resources available to help bring down the cost of all the "things" you need for a newborn baby. New parents, take note: Online classified Web sites and places that offer nearly new items for cheap or even free will serve you well. Believe it or not, the baby won't know the difference between a new crib and a gently used one.

The summer months are most common for new arrivals. That means many expectant parents are looking right now to purchase baby-related items and need to find the space in their homes to store them. Here are a few ideas to help new parents find the items they need without spending more than they can reasonably afford:

—Secondhand sites. Venture beyond the old standards, such as eBay and Craigslist. Posting want ads for furniture and infant accessories at http://www.freecycle.org could turn up treasures that are absolutely free and connect you with other young parents in your neighborhood. Also, don't overlook Web sites that have classified ads for second-generation items, such as http://www.kijiji.com. ("Kijiji" means "village" in Swahili.) This is a free, local, family-friendly Web site that caters to more than 1,000 cities and countries around the world. Kijiji's staff takes every precaution to make sure that local families have a safe place to buy, sell, trade and connect.

—Mommy exchange.

Purchase the items secondhand that babies grow out of quickly. Look for gently used cribs, rocking chairs, changing tables and strollers. Then, as your baby grows out of them, re-list them on the Internet for other local mothers to enjoy.

—Hold off on hand-me-downs. As their children graduate from strollers to tricycles, most parents decide to donate those expensive baby items or hand them down to friends or family members. However, the items their children no longer use could easily earn them much-needed cash. Only 7 percent of parents said they resell baby items once their children have outgrown them, which means a whopping 93 percent of parents are missing out on potential cash.

—Make the most of your space. Stop house hunting out of your price range just because you're bringing a little one home. Instead, find "hidden" storage space in your current residence. Use hooks, bookcases, shelves and ceiling racks to create extra space. Over-the-door shoe racks are also great for organizing a baby's various lotions, potions and small accessories.

—Re-purpose a room. Think outside the box when considering how to use the rooms of your home. Transform your dining room, guest room or home office into a nursery, or carve out space for baby in your living room or bedroom. Hang screens, shelves or curtains, or have a temporary wall built to separate each space.

Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including her latest, "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.