$5000!? How much did you spend?

[Devon]

Hi everyone

I've just been using MelA's very helpful thread to start putting together a list of all the things we need to buy and approximate prices.

I was shocked to discover that the total so far is just over $5000 (not including maternity-related stuff), although I'm sure we will get some things as gifts and may be lent some things as well. But I'm also sure there are items I have left off the list, or have underestimated the price for.

I'm wondering how much other people have spent on buying the necessary equipment for a first baby. Do you know how much you spent? Has anyone drawn up a budget? If you'd be happy to share, I'd love to get an idea of how much other people think they've spent.

If only the baby bonus was still paid as a lump sum!!

Thanks!

Devon
xxxx

[Liz]

hmm... Some of these we were given, so didn't come out of our pocket.. but I guess these round figures will give me an idea:

Cot & mattress: $400
Drawers: $500 (gift)
Change Table: $150 (hand-me-down)
Nappy buckets: $30
Cloth Nappies: $500
Clothes: $150 (wild guess at what a few jumpsuits & outfits might add up to LOL)
Cot sheets & blanket: $100 (were given a few)
Pram: $500 (gift)
Car Seat: $500

Can't think of anything else?

For bub #2, all I did was get a different bassinet thing that attaches to our bed.. but then she will move into the existing cot.

OK.. so total for first bub: $2830

what are you planning to buy? have I missed anything? I thought mine was gonna be big coz I included the initial expense of the cloth nappies!

ETA: baby monitor: $120
Hugabub: $120

Total now $3070

Bought no toiletries or anything. Got free hairbrush & nailclippers etc with the baby monitor LOL.

[~breeze~]

I'm sure I didnt spend $5000. My most expensive item would have to have been my pram, an Emmaljunga which was $1200 on special. Car seat was safe n sound meridian, about $600? Capsule about $200? We used DH's old cot that has gone down through his family (almost 50 years now) so I didnt have to worry about buying that. Everything else was small purchases as far as I can remember LOL
So maybe all up we spent about $2500-$3000??

If only the baby bonus was still paid as a lump sum!!

Isn't it paid as a lump sum anymore? I never knew this!

[~clover~]

Isn't it paid as a lump sum anymore? Or are you under 18? I think it is unless you are under 18.

Even if it is a lump sum it doesn't come til bubs is a few weeks old. You need stuff well before then.
What have you got on your list? I'm sure you won't need everything. The only way I can see it adding up to that much is if you have the most expensive things.

I just got a cotbed for $400. It was down from $599, but still not too much. You can get cots alot cheaper.
Car seat was $220. 0-4.
Pram was $250. Big W
They are the basic big things. You don't need a cradle/bassinette.
You don't really need a porta cot. Not straight away anyway.
Instead of a steriliser you can boil things, or use milton tablets.
Don't buy too many clothes. They grow out of them fast.
You don't really need a baby bath. If you do, get one on a stand with a hose.
Sling/carriers are a good idea.
You could get drawers, cupboards etc second hand & repaint them.
My rocker cost $50 down from $100.
I've never had a change table.
Sheets & blankets are good prices at Big W too.
So are their mat bra's & clothes.

You still have heaps of time. Wait for sales. Shop around. If you still think you need to spend that much, concentrate on one thing at a time so you can spread the money out.
HTH you reduce it a bit.

[sushee]

Yeah I'd say I spent about $5k. That was a Bertini pram, First Wheels stroller, solid wood chest of drawers (with a change table top), cot, cradle, car seat, capsule, glider chair for late night BFs, high chair, sling, baby clothes, sleeping bags and manchester. Maternity-related stuff is not included.

[Liz]

Aah yes, rocking chair, high chair..

I guess it does add up! I'm up to about $3500 now. LOL.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

It's no longer called the baby bonus, it is maternity payment, it will be paid in installment for everybody as of Jan 2009 and if you and your partner have a combined income of 75,000 in the six months after bub is born you will not be eligible to recieve it. Have a look in the finances sections there was quite a bit of debate about it around the time the new budget was handed down in government.

Cot & Mattress $200
Pram (the first one) $100
Pram (the second one) $100
Rocker $40
Playmat $30
Bouncer Toy $100
Carseat $150
Highchair $120
Jolly Jumper $40
Clothes $150
Cloth Nappies $700

Everything else we got second hand.
Personally I think it is such a large waste of resources and money to buy everything new. Of course it is essential to get some of it, otherwise it take some of the fun out of what can other wise be a dull pregnancy (mine was!). I was given so much stuff and am so thankful I didn't buy toys or clothes or blankets or sheets, because I STILL have too much now.
As for prams and carseats, well I know you cant put a price on safety but at the time we didnt have a car so we got a suitable one that could go in other peoples cars when necessary. As for the pram, I really cannot justify spending that kind of money. I have a $100 pram which will be a suitable stroller until at least 2 years of age. When DS was a newborn I used it with a Kapoochi bag, which was perfect. It's light and easy to use.

[Isadora]

I would say all up you could easily spend $5000. My advice to you is dont bother with the baby bath, just use the kitchen sink. Our baby bath has hardly been used.

[sushee]

I had no one to hand anything down to me, unfortunately, and my DH will not buy second hand from someone he doesn't know (don't ask!). My sister had had a baby, but she was only 11 months old when Charlie was born. I got some clothes from her, but they were virtually all pink.

I did on-sell a lot of stuff after we stopped using them, and as they were in great condition, got good prices for them. In fact I sold my capsule at auction for only about $20 less than I paid for it new.

[TheBear]

Big ticket items:-
Hammock and bedding - $350 - Amby
Stroller - $400 - Mclaren
Baby Capsule - $230 (ebay) Sns Unity
Change Table - $40 (bunnings)
Baby Bouncer - $40

Lots of smaller things, but still less than $1500