i am sure i am repeating what everyone else has posted!!

what i highly reccommend is to not pin yourself down to one resource.

all the above suggetsions are fantastic, but you dont really kow if you are getting a good deal if you dont know what prices the items are going for.

i kept an eye on ebay, trading post and local markets.

as an example, i saw a highchair at target i like for $249. So i searched for it on ebay for 5 or 6 weeks and got it for $46!! BRAND NEW NEVER BEEN USED!!!

I did the same with a stroller. Steelcraft strider four wheeler with basinet retails for around $600 and I got them for $180 in brand new condition.
the strider dlx comes with an optional capsule that clips straight from the car to the stroller so you dont need to disturb your baby. i didnt worry about it though because i read that it isnt good for a baby to be in a capsule for long periods of time and i thought it was better that my son get used to be movd around and resettling.

the one item i would only ever buy new is the car seats. a small crack can completely destroy the safety of the seat. and not everyone is honest about the condition of their itmes when selling.

I was similar to yourself and didnt want to get excited about my pregnancy too early because of my family history of miscarriage. BUT when you do decide to go and buy things, NEVER buy stuff that fits and NEVER pay full price.
I am not keen on buying clothes online as i have received goods that werent as described, but you can get great deals in stores. Buy clothes when they are on sale and layby them or put them away. End of season is fantastic cos you can get some absolute bargains!!! I was just walking through myer yesterday and they have 30%off all kids clothing. That combined with other markdowns meant i paid half price!!! I bought all the items in much largers sizes for next year.

from memory there are heaps of two seater strollers on ebay. and they go very cheap. but do go out and see them in person because you may find something about it that doesnt suit your needs. storage space s a huge must.

oh my favourite item i have bought is a bath seat. dont get the fabric ones because they sink down. the plastic ones you can get are fantastic. frees both hands so you can better care for your baby.

good luck with the shopping. keep us posted so others can get ideas aswell!