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BANG FOR THE BITE

Swapping rules: It takes fewer new resources (both planetary and pocketbook), but there's no accounting for your neighbor's taste in maternity muumuus.

COCKTAIL FACT

The most popular baby names in the United States today are Jacob for boys and Emily for girls.

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home › tip library › Swapping Maternity and Kids Products

Are babies heavyweights on your budget?

The Bite

Sure. But you'll save a lotta money for baby's college fund by swapping goods like maternity clothes, kids' toys, and strollers with other parents. You'll also save a used diaper-load of natural resources.

The Benefits

More pennies in the piggybank. Sure, the joys of parenthood are priceless, but the average cost of raising a kid 'til age 2 can top $13,430.
Adult-size eco-rewards. Babies often graduate to new clothing sizes (and toys) every few months; a lotta energy's used to market, transport, and sell brand-new stuff.

Personally Speaking

When she was 8 years old, Jen got a hand-me-down Little House on the Prairie-esque, dress from an older girl she looked up to. She wore it everywhere for years.

Wanna Try?

SwapBabyGoods and Zwaggle - if you don't already know peeps who have stuff to trade, swap all things baby at one of these websites.
Just Between Friends - consignment network with locations in 15 states that caters to babies, kids, and moms.

Jan 29,2008

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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.

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Trading Spaces

A friend of mine is a wine broker. I recently took a bunch of one-more-year-and-it's-vinegar bottles off her hands. I've never seen her park in her garage, and I finally figured out why: It is bursting at its concrete seams with...stuff! You couldn't step inside if your life depended on it.

Well, well, well, look at me all smug and superior. All of my belongings fit into my humble city apartment-no storage space (OK, except for those two boxes of Star Wars fan club memorabilia at Mom's), not even a car.

But the fact is, if I had a garage to fill up, you bet I'd end up doing it. I'd hold onto things just in case...in case in 20 years, say, my niece will want some natty old coat I don't wear anymore for a Halloween party. By then, it will be misshapen from storage, possibly eaten through by moths, and weirdly discolored - but hey, you never know, right?

Well, in the meantime, someone could be using it, and I could have one less thing to keep track of. Same with all stuff that's seen its day - trade it, gift it, give it away.

-Jenifer Morgan...off to trade some stuff for more space...

P.S. Here’s that cute photo of the other Jen (Boulden) that we mentioned in today’s Personally Speaking…

Biter Comments...

I have just been doing some spring cleaning myself, trying to make room for my son's new toddler bed, which we bought used on ebay! When I can't be bothered buying or selling something on ebay, or having a garage sale, I use our local freecycle network... it's a fantastic way to get rid of stuff and know it's going to a good home, and if there's something you really need, chances are someone else has one lying around that they never use... check out your local freecycle group at: www,freecycle.org Cheers, Annie www.anniesorganics.mionegroup.com Organic & Natural Enterprise Group Independent Representative

Posted by: Annie | January 29, 2008 at 04:44 AM

I'll second Annie's note on freecycle. I've been using the local group for about a year, now, and have been able to find homes for a lot of things that I might have otherwise thrown out. I see a lot of baby clothing offered up on that group. Check out your local group! http://www.freecycle.org - Alan

Posted by: Alan | January 29, 2008 at 06:38 AM

I'm an avid Just Between Friends shopper and consignor, participating in four regional sales each season. It's not just about saving money, we have a ton of fun and always make new friends and contacts. In fact, I just got an email from JBF stating they were going to be featured on CNBC's The Big Idea (with Donny Deutsch) tonight! Save on!

Posted by: Michelle | January 29, 2008 at 08:55 AM

I use swapbabygoods.com all the time to swap for my girls. It does not just help me save a lot of money but we have a great network of moms. It is so much fun to be a part of. It's a great feeling to see all the baby/mommy items being passed on to a good home. I find it a great resource that allows me do my part in saving the environment. All the parents must check it out.

Posted by: Crystal | January 29, 2008 at 03:57 PM

Don't forget freecycle.org! Not only can you gain good karma by offering the stuff you dont' want anymore, but you can ASK for stuff you need - for free!

Posted by: Lauren | January 29, 2008 at 04:08 PM

I second swapbabygoods.com. I have used it on and off for the last 3 years and always had great experienecs. The best part is now they offer prizes just to participate. It is a great place for moms from all walks of life to get together and help each other save on baby items and go green.

Posted by: Rachel | January 29, 2008 at 08:14 PM

I too love JBF (Just Between Friends). I can sell my kids gently-used items and get up to 70% back! I tag the items using their great barcoding system at myjbftags.com and drop it off and they take care of everything else! Plus I can help out the local charity with donations. I always find great deals on name brand and boutique items, some with tags still on it. The comaraderie and the amazing new friends that I now have from this is a blessing as well!

Posted by: Karen | January 29, 2008 at 09:45 PM

I live for buying and selling on ebay. Half the time I will pay up to 70% of the original value of an item just to get it used so that I'm not buying new. I did think the tip was a little shy on information compared to other tips. This would have been a good time to throw in the idea of using cloth diapers to save money or possibly not even falling into the trap of 'needing' so many baby items that are advertised. One good idea is to buy one car seat that will go up to 60 pounds. Forget the carrier car seats...carry your baby...it's better for the babe and you'll be saving a large chunk of plastic. -Carrie http://www.litegreenliving.com

Posted by: Carrie | January 29, 2008 at 11:45 PM

Gee! That is what I love about idealbite: smart team and brilliant people blogging on it: who said that the future is gloom? Idealbite (amongst some other powerful sites like urth.tv, gaia.com...) demonstrates that usually people do care and CAN make huge positive and lasting changes for the future! Bravo pour tout le monde!

Posted by: Pascal Gillon BASc of infogatherer.com | January 31, 2008 at 12:42 PM

Hmm, interesting that so many people turned this into what to do with baby stuff. I'm going through that myself right now. Anyway, one other cool way to get rid of old stuff and acquire new (to you) stuff is to host a "Naked Lady Party" (some people call it a "clothing swap" but that just doesn't sound as exciting). Just invite a smallish to medium sized group of friends to bring their old clothes over and heap them in a pile in the middle of the room and once everyone's there, they can all sift through and take what they want home. Some people have rules like "you can't take home more than you brought" but I usually just want it all to get taken somewhere otherwise you're stuck with a big pile of clothes to take to Goodwill where people have to pay too much for it. Just share. That's what it's really about. (and keeping things out of landfills).

Posted by: Elizabeth | February 11, 2008 at 01:30 PM