How do you afford them?
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Category: Product Reviews
Forum Name: Cloth Nappy Discussion
Forum Description: Are you new to cloth nappies? Looking for washing tips? Want to rave about a great new nappy you've tried? By popular request a board especially for all our cloth Mums!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=39269
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Topic: How do you afford them?
Posted By: myfullhouse
Subject: How do you afford them?
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 9:27am
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How do you afford to buy them? I have heard about some of the 'stashes' some of you have and I am jealous!
We bought a huge amount of fitted MCNs for Jack before he was born and when we were on 2 incomes. I have since sold those to a friend. I was using homemade pockets (thanks MIL) on Ben but he has grown out of those so I started to use the pockets that I made Jack which are bigger but the elastic has gone in alot of the legs and I haven't had time to fix them. So Ben has been in sposies for the last 2mths 
So I had thought of buying a few to bulk up my 'stash' but they are so expensive, $30-40 each for new. Do you buy 2nd hand ones? I suppose I have a little 'thing' about buying them 2nd hand, maybe cos I wouldn't buy myslef 2nd hand knickers. Anyway I suppose this is a bit of a rant about my frustration about not having my MCNs to use, but also I wonder about how to get more which pretty much no extra $$ ------------- Lindsey 
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Replies:
Posted By: Whateversville
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 9:35am
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Layby! Places like tweedle and chic cheeks for example have a layby option. If it wasn't for that, i'd never have as many as I do.
Otherwise I buy 1 or 2 a week. Altho I am now buying coz I want to not coz I need them.. |
Posted By: Nothing
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 9:58am
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Buy one or two a week. Trade me is good for bargains, just make sure you ask how they have been washed/handled. Or save up and get 4 a month (saves on shipping). I just seem to aquire them I suppose, although I am now selling off those I dont use anymore. ------------- 
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Posted By: Jaune
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 10:03am
What they said! And as you're adding to your stash, you're using less disposibles so you'll be saving money as you're spending it...eventually you'll have enough nappies that you'll stop buying the disposibles and you'll have a wee surplus that you can put towards more nappies or something else...or so the theory goes!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 10:49am
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I bought when I was still working initially and now I wait for a sale nd buy a couple at a time. I'm like you and can't stnd the thought of buying second hand, unless perhaps I knew the person I was buying from.
I love not having the weekly expense of sposies and knowing that eventually when I on sell them I'll be getting a reasonable return -------------  
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Posted By: luvmylittlies
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 12:43pm
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Most of mine are second hand because I couldn't afford new. That way too you work out what sorts you like before investing in the cost of new ones. Then I just waited until the sales to top up my stash with nicer or newer ones. ------------- Adoring Mum to Talisin 8/9/11 and Kiara 18/01/10 |
Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 1:04pm
| I've only brought second hand of ladies here or that i know - except one which turned out to be rooted but (thanks to wriggles) is fixed now! But lesson learnt and i'll restrain my second hand buying to familiar faces now. New, I 'buy' one a week but order once a month or so or the postage would be insane. Its taken me ages to have enough for full time too. I never even considered layby wish i had would have been so much easier! |
Posted By: Tweedle
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 1:19pm
Charlie Banana nappies are very reasonable and fantastic quality. At the moment with Cloth Nappy Week they are only around $22!  ------------- Mum to Ellie, Dylan & Lauren |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 1:55pm
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I tend to buy on sale - I usually wait for a 20% off sale at least. Are you near a retailer you can pick up from? Cos I find the shipping can add quite a bit so I often buy crom Cheeky Cherubs and get my mum to pick up and then just collect them next time I see her.
I'm going to buck the trend and say I've bought on trademe. I do pick and choose a bit, but often you can find listings from people who bought them with all the good intentions and never really used them so you get very good nappies very cheaply. I give trademe nappies a strip wash and then a line dry and then a canestan wash and then another line dry. Then I use them and haven't had any problems. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 4:28pm
| ^^ true that, i should have said all of my nappies except the LE ones have been brought on TM but new if that makes sense, often people who brought 8 ittis but didnt like them or didnt suit their baby so sell 7 brand new ones IYKWIM. |
Posted By: blossombaby
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 4:39pm
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I started out buying 6 brand new small ittis when preg from ittibitti
When we decided to go cloth in feb dd still fit the smalls so i've added to our stash since then now sitting just over 30. I don't think i've brought of itti sicne i tend to buy them from chic cheeks, ecomoon and the likes .. FB is a good start to find good sale prices! I try and about in 2 or 3 so the post is worth while?? I also don't like the idea of buying 2nd hand off trademe .. but I have brought some brand new off there! DP has told me to stop buying them for a while because we don't plan on anymore babies so i can't pull the costs less/ save money because i totaly spend more then the cost of disposibles heheheh (but they are so cute!!) Could you ask people to buy you them as a gift for the new baby?? or could you layby some and see if people want to put some $$ on it for you if you can't asfford the whole cost?? I would be stoked if a friend asked for cn as a pressy for baby! In fact i've just brought and sent some over to my sister in auz because thats what she wanted! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 6:10pm
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Thanks ladies, will keep an eye out for sales then. We are trying to finish our renovations before the baby arrives so extra money is not very available but will try and ferrett some away. Will also keep a look out on TM
BlossomBaby it isn't actually the new baby I need the nappies for, it's Ben. I already have prefolds (but need new covers) and the nappies that Ben has grown out of. ------------- Lindsey
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Posted By: pekay
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 8:11pm
| I have just started using cloth again this week after taking a pretty big break from them. I bought a value pack of itti bitti's, and with their discount this week their AIO's worked out to be about $24, a bargain I thought! For us, we put them on the credit card and the $40 we will save at the supermarket each week will go straight back to paying the credit card. We will get all the costs back in about 8 weeks, so very little interest on the CC. Is this an option for you??? |
Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 9:19pm
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I buy off TradeMe. I figure that chances are any second-hand baby clothes you buy will have been pooed on anyway, every baby has an explosion now and then... a good wash should get everything out. In saying that, I'm starting to buy more nappies new, since I've had a few of my ittis elastic give out, and I figure I'll get longer out of them before having to fix that if I buy them new.
I was lucky, I saved up a bit of a stash for the baby while I was trying to conceive him (and we had a while, so it got to be a decent amount). So we just bought what we needed straight out with that money - and of course, it's meant we've saved lots down the track as we haven't needed to buy many sposies. -------------   
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Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 7:17pm
| I went for the cheaper option over MCNs. I bought pre-folds and Bummis Whisper pants, both when they were on special. |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 7:33pm
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I have some cherub tree pockets, they are pretty good and fairly cheap too.
Now that DH and I are leaning towards 3 kids, I'll probably buy new for any more that DD needs as that way hopefully they'll last all 3. Not all the ones I've bought off TM will. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Kimnthekids
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 8:07pm
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I started by buying some cheapies from trademe, bulky pocket things (and i still use them a year later) i think they were $20ish for 5?
When i realised i could do cloth, and liked it, i kept shopping. I bought 2 ittis second hand on trademe, then 1 baby blush in a sale. I kept those 8 nappies for months, washing each day, always having just enough to get by (other than night) but not much leeway room. I used to bid on cheap ones and miss them ALL THE TIME> but eventually you get lucky. then now that i am earning again, ive bought more... and now dont NEED any more, but will stay selling the ones i dont like, and getting more that i love. You can do it, just slowly. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: NewMummyJade
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 9:54pm
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I made the desision to use cloth before I got pregnant, and I was 3 1/2 weeks when we found out.
DF and I made a "Baby Account" and put $100 a week aside for the 36 weeks while we had 2 incomes for everthing we needed for baby. I started off getting 24 Itti SIO's and 5 extra insert sets from Itti Bitti for $750. I told DF this would be it and I didnt need anymore... He was ok with it coz compared to $40 a week for disposables it was a good deal! Slowly but surely I managed to get more... and more... Laybuy was my best friend! I got about 5 more from Chic Cheeks while I was pregnant, 10x China Cheapies Pockets for $80 off TM and my friend sold 6x Brand new Snazzipants AIO's for $40. I also got 3x Itti AIO's off a lady on here for $45, they were in near new condition! Tayla is 13 weeks old and I think I have brought atleast another 10 on Laybuy with Chic-Cheeks and Nappy Heaven, after CNW ive got another 10 on laybuy. Ive got 3 off TM (that im about to sell again) plus 2 at a nappy sale and Ive won 2 in competitions. I seriously think enough is enough now. Im gunna have over 70 when ive paid off these laybuys and thats way too many for one baby. I only really use the ittis anyway so im gunna go thru and sell all the ones I dont use. Try and get it down to the 40 or so Ittis and the cute other ones like IAPT and Cinnamon's. So anyone want any cheap pockets their all yours. Ive never even used most of them, EVER! They have been pre-washed and thats it. Also maybe check out the buy and sell MCN Facebook page for good 2nd hand deals ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 23 May 2011 at 1:15pm
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Well Ben is back in cloth today, got my A into G and fixed the leg elastic on his nappies, so I have 11 pockets, might have to wash each day just to make sure I have enough.
Thanks for all the tips, will keep an eye out for specials, just not really sure what I want to try since I have pretty much always used homemade pockets. DH gets paid monthly so will have to see if there is any 'leftover' next week, otherwise might have to do a cleanout and sell some stuff on TM NewMummyJade thanks for the FB page, have had a look and will keep an eye on it. ------------- Lindsey
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Posted By: TheNappyBootique
Date Posted: 24 May 2011 at 9:29am
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Im shutting down The Nappy Bootique as I need to focus on Booti Tutu- but one of my stockist Cinnanmon Nappies are seriously great value for money and Have an insert built in PLUS its a OSFA- I LOVE mine!!! You can find them on Fb and there website- $26 a nappy!! sometimes on Fb $20!! ------------- Mamaa to 2 firery kidlets! 2 more on the way!! http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 25 May 2011 at 7:41am
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I buy 2nd hand/new off TM. I tend to look for nappies worn once only. Or never used etc.
This week i got 2 new ittis for $40 And a new ped pod for $5 Also i bought a huge amount of the cheap nappies. Babyluv, BabyLand, Sunnybaby. These were about 5 for $30-$40. I look for $1 reserve auctions. These are no good for night but are good for day time. And ive just worked on my stash of ittis etc over time. -------------  
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Posted By: lisame
Date Posted: 25 May 2011 at 10:09am
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It's not really 'affording' them is it - it's the one-off outlay as opposed to the little bit each week for disposables. If you sat down and worked out how much you spend on disposables and how quickly you could pay off MCNs if not buying them - it's usually not very long.
Can you negotiate a 'nappy overdraft'? I have bought off trademe 2nd hand, but like others they were usually not used at all or hardly used so still had plenty of life in them (except for a few bamboo ones I've had problems with). Covers and night nappies I've bought new as they're definitely worth making sure you are getting a good nappy that will last. inserts you can always get new on TM really cheaply, if you go for the pocket option. |
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 25 May 2011 at 11:29am
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Going to have to do something as just found another nappy where the PUL has started to split so leak, they are homemade ones and about 3yo.
Will wait till DH gets paid next week (monthly) and do our budget, see if I can get anymore. I am just really confused though as to what to buy, there are so many brands out there and I just don't want to make a mistake. Plus wondering if I still go for pockets or use AIO or some other type. Oh so confusing  , decisions decisions ------------- Lindsey
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Posted By: Nothing
Date Posted: 26 May 2011 at 10:53am
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Pop into the nappyholics thread and have a read through. At the moment there is lots of cheap nappys on Trade Me ( I have been searching), you just have to be dedicated and look at most listings. Is hiring an NB cloth nappy kit an option for you? That would mean you can skip buying for that size and just go straight into mediums. -------------
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 26 May 2011 at 1:29pm
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Wriggles it isn't the new baby that I am having trouble with, have prefolds and pockets that should last up to at least 1yo, it is Ben my nearly 2yo that I need nappies for ------------- Lindsey
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Posted By: Nothing
Date Posted: 26 May 2011 at 2:00pm
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Ah bugger, trade me would be your best option. If you could hire a larger size kit would you do it? -------------
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 26 May 2011 at 2:18pm
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Nah probably wouldn't hire. I know it is strange but I have a thing about buying 2nd hand nappies, suppose cos I wouldn't buy myself 2nd hand knickers.
Will search TM when I have time, started looking the other night but there are so many listings to sort through ------------- Lindsey
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Posted By: Nothing
Date Posted: 26 May 2011 at 5:49pm
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Fair enough, I just do a strip wash before I put DD in them. I just start with the newest listings and work my way back from there. Good luck -------------
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Posted By: mizpix
Date Posted: 29 May 2011 at 10:02pm
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I've bought second hand, washed but unused, off trade me and they are great. Also bought some nappy company cheap ones off trade me (no reserve auction) and these are great too, just had to buy an extra insert for each as one isnt enough. I only have 6 named brand nappies and these are my least favourite. I have approx 30 nappies and reckon I spent less than $200 on the lot! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2920e5" rel="nofollow - My Ovulation Chart |