Shopping Vs Presents

[l_maclean]

Get ready for a ramble cos im not very good at explaining this.

I really feel like i should start shopping for bubs - as DH only has 5more pay checks before EDD- and we kinda spent a bit more on holiday than originally planned - so wanna spread the cost a bit.

Only problem is i dont really know where to start. Without sounding spoilt/conceted etc - im expecting quite a lot of people wanting to buy presents.

Quick explanation of that - my folks have offered to get our pram, im kinda thinking in-laws will want to get something substantial - i dunno what - as its their first g-child, plus when my brother had kids - the two aunts we are close to wanted suggestions of what to buy - think one ended up buying a fancy hi-chair and the other a bath - rather than just clothes.

Also - when we got married at the beginning of the year we got a lot of lovely gifts from people we dont know but MIL knows from church (she's very much a "face" around here), so im think same might happen again.

This sounds like im bragging - which is not my intention - my dilema is that DH and I are far from well off so I dont wanna waste money on things that other people are likely to be buying -like heaps of newborn clothes etc, or suggest that those wanting to buy bigger items get things we dont really need cos we've bought everthing ourselves, yet on the other hand i dont wanna leave it to late to start buying things ourselves that it all comes out in one go.

If you understand that long winded rabbe - well done - not sure i would. lol

Any advice would be much appreciated.

xxx

 

[niknaks]

im kinda in the same boat. plus my cousin is moving to australia and is giving me her cot bed and a few other bits and pieces. do you know if your having a baby shower? or if not when you'll be getting the stuuf. or even you could always save and go on a big baby splurge. my other cousin is throwing me a baby shower so my mum and oh have told me not to buy anything till after. suppose itll make things easier as me and oh arent well off either but have to wait till beginning of nov to find out what we need. its killing me though cos ive seen some adorable things and even a baby's first christmas baby gro from boots so might have to throw some subtle hints out lol but i think either save for just in case or if you having a baby shower invite the people who you think will get stuff and see after what you need x

 

[BabyBrain]

It's hard I know. Have you tried dropping hints to the MIL? show her some cots you like of varying prices and see what happens....that's one thing off your list.
To be honest, we are buying a pram with a carry cot so if push comes to shove baby can sleep in that for at least a month if we need to buy a cot later, or we'll get a moses basket which are way cheaper.
Clothes I'm not going to go mad on either as you honestly don't know what size and shape baby will be and there's loads of bargains to be had online last minute. Take a look at this site for nappies, I am going for this as I can order a week or two before I am due (again will get better idea on size) and its a great deal....

http://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs...isplay26_5102_10751_14552_brand_set_-1__10001

Maybe save the money from hubby's pay that you would be spending and see what happens after Christmas and nearer the time xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[l_maclean]

Thanks guys.

Nik - a friend has kinda hinted at a baby shower, but tbh our families arent near enough to be able to come to that kinda thing.

BB - i really dont have that kinda relationship with MIL - she did the flowers for our wedding, and when it came to paying for them - it all just kinda went unsaid - i had the money left in the budget just in case - DH isnt really much help either cos he wont speak to his folks about anything.

Im thinking it might just come down to the saving bit - just wondered what everyone else was doing, or had any ideas. We've got a fair bit on our credit card just now - so a junk of what evers left at end of month usually goes on that.

TBH im a bit of a control freak and just want things organised. lol -guess i should get used to that not happening.

xxx

 

[jomc]

I know what u mean. People generally buy clothes as gifts so what Ive done is buy a few new sleepsuits and vests etc but I aslo bought quite a few clothes on ebay. That way if we get better stuff as gifts, Im not bothered if the ebay stuff doesnt get used. I got a bag of about 50 items off ebay for £4, quite a bit of it was new with tags as well so mite be worth u looking there

 

[hellywelly]

Sounds daft but paying off as much of the credit card as you can means you won't have that hanging over you when bubs arrives which might take the pressure off a bit, and then just save cash each month so even if you do get stuff at the end you have a little pot of money for it. Also, sounds mad but what about the boring practical stuff like wipes and nappies??!! Watch out for ASDA baby events and stuff and stock up - all the new mums I know say they can never get enough nappies!!! I haven't bought any clothes yet as I have a funny feeling there will be lots coming our way - our school caretaker found out I was pregnant this week and brought me in a bag of his grandkids recently outgrown babygrows hardly worn!! Some people are so kind...

 

[positivity :)]

we have had to be a bit blunt with people which sounds awful but..immediate family (mums,dads,bros,sis's) have said they will buy us something substantial but a few of them haven't taken well to us telling them what to get (oh's bro, my bro and my dad). its so annoying coz what are they going to do..buy us a cot when someone else is...buy us a car seat when its not the one we want. i would never ask anyone for anything but i didn't want people buying expensive things when we could do with that money paying for the things we need. i know i'm a bit spoilt, our buggy, moses basket, cotbed, car seat etc is being bought for us...but it hasn't been an easy ride as its really difficult telling people what to get you xx

 

[Sarah13]

There's no rush to buy stuff, we still have lots things to get now with 5 weeks left (including all nursery furniture!) Just save money then have a big spending spree when you have a few weeks left and people have mentioned gifts. Generally anyone wanting to buy a big gift will say so way before you have gone out buying stuff. We've had my mum, MIL, nan, SIL all ask us or give us a nice cash gift weeks ago so we hadnt already got stuff at this point. Remember you still have 5 months to go and quite often people wait until after 20 scan incase your finding out the sex.

 

[l_maclean]

Thanks everyone. I guess I just kinda feel like i should be doing more to get organised. I sorta felt like this when i was getting married - that i was supposed to be rushing about doing all this stuff - but i wasnt.

We have started stocking up on some of the things like wipes etc - I'm kinda leaning towards reusable nappies - but am still researching different kinds, and dont wanna buy much of one type incase we decide its not gonna work - and wont know that till bubs is here.

xxx

 

[Hemera]

some baby stores offer gift lists so many chuck everything you need on there - then you can monitor whats being brought for you. Or just ask for vouchers etc. I would put some money aside each month to cover stuff incase it doesn't get brought for you and wouldn't bother with anything but essential clothes. Ebay and carboot sales are great for these too as so many people overbuy baby clothes, they only get worn once or twice (if that) then the baby outgrows them and they get sold.
I would maybe start stocking up on boring things that people arn't going to get as gifts, like nappies and wipes tho