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5 Thrifty Places to Shop for Baby’s First Christmas

November 1, 2016 by Rachael 6 Comments

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 5 Thrifty Places to Shop for Baby’s First Christmas: Tips on where to find frugal Christmas gifts for kids and baby’s first Christmas!

Thrifty Christmas | Baby's First Christmas | Frugal Christmas Gifts for Kids | Save Money | Christmas on a Budget

Last month I shared tips to celebrate Christmas on a budget. (See 5 Ways to Save Money This Christmas). Though Christmas on a budget isn’t new to us, last year budgeting for baby’s first Christmas presented new challenges .

We were fairly new homeowners and parents learning to live on one income when we celebrated G’s first Christmas in 2015. As much as I love Christmas shopping, splurging on the newest baby toys and clothes wasn’t possible. Fortunately, we were able to greatly stretch our limited Christmas budget with a little creativity in where we shopped!

Thrifty Christmas | Baby's First Christmas | Frugal Christmas Gifts for Kids | Save Money | Christmas on a Budget

G’s 1st Christmas. Over half of the toys shown were bought using the places below!

5 Thrifty Places to Shop for Baby’s First Christmas

  1. Goodwill: To get the most out of Goodwill, shop often and shop throughout the year. I make several quick trips to Goodwill throughout the year, checking their baby clothes and toys. Some days, I leave with nothing, while other days I leave with a cart full of like new items. I’ve found some amazing baby toys and clothes at our local Goodwill. My favorite finds to date have been our Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Home (which retailed  for over $70 when I found it for $11.99), and several like-new name brand clothes including Osh Kosh B’gosh overalls and jeans for $1.50 each.
  2. Thrifty Christmas | Baby's First Christmas | Frugal Christmas Gifts for Kids | Save Money | Christmas on a Budget

    G playing with her $10 kitchen.

  3. Garage Sales: Sellers are often eager to clear clutter by selling items at an extreme discount from the original price through garage sales. (See How To Turn Your Clutter Into Cash) A few months ago, I spent $10 on a play kitchen and food that retailed for $80 at Walmart. Saving $70 was well worth the twenty minutes I spent cleaning it up. Another benefit to garage sales is the option to haggle. If the seller is unwilling to lower the price, stop by when the sale is almost over. If the item is still available, chance are the seller will be more receptive to a lower price.
  4. Flea Markets: We’re fortunate to have a large flea market in our area. During the holiday season there is an influx of people selling baby and toddler items. And, like garage sales, many sellers are willing to bargain over the price. Since there are multiple sellers, there is also more variety!
  5. Resale or Consignment Shops:  In exchange for a slightly higher price than garage sales, flea markets and Goodwill, items at resale shops are often in like-new condition. If you don’t want to spend time cleaning up items you’ve bought used, this may be the best option for you. And don’t forget to check for community wide sales in your area! (See 7 Tips to Win at Community Consignment Sales)
  6. Online: Ebay, Craiglist and Facebook Garage Sale Groups are my favorite online resources for baby items. When buying from online Facebook groups it’s important to move quickly! Items are often claimed within minutes. Some items are also cross posted, meaning the seller has posted it in several groups. Message the seller, or comment letting them know you want the item if it is still available. See my post How to Turn Your Clutter Into Cash for more information on these resources (written from the perspective of a seller).

Looking for more ways to save, or preparing for a new baby? See these posts:

5waystosavechristmas 7 Tips to Win at Community Consignment Sales: Helpful tips on how to save money and get the most out of local sales. 5 Things to Prep Before Baby Arrives: Are these on your list?

What’s your favorite way to save?

Filed Under: Saving Money Tagged With: saving money, seasonal

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susanne

    November 6, 2016 at 10:02 pm

    Great places to pick up gifts!! Clean them up and no one will know the difference and baby’s first Christmas is really only remembered by us adults that love them 🙂 Thanks for sharing at TaDa Thursday!!

    Reply
    • Avatar photoRachael

      November 7, 2016 at 12:14 pm

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  2. Marjan

    November 8, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    I love looking around thrift stores and goodwill. You never know what you find there. Garage sales are great places to pick up lots of good stuff as well.

    Reply
  3. Melony

    November 8, 2016 at 10:19 pm

    No babies on my horizon, but I love shopping at all of your store suggestions for myself!!

    Reply
    • Avatar photoRachael

      November 9, 2016 at 10:37 am

      Me too! I’ve loved finding treasures second hand for years!

      Reply
  4. Jess

    November 11, 2016 at 11:04 am

    Such great ideas! 🙂

    I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

    Reply

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About My Pennywise Life

I'm Rachael: wife, mom, homemaker, Christ follower, and former teacher with a passion for saving money, simple, healthy, and affordable recipes and tips for daily life. Learn more about me.

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