When I was expecting my first child, I worked in a nursing home.  I really didn’t have to worry about my work clothes because it was pretty basic stuff and not too much room for individuality.

I really never showed until I was around 6 months pregnant.  At that time, I began to search for maternity clothes but our budget was so strained, I simply couldn’t afford to buy too many clothes.  A friend of mine decided to pass along the clothes she had sitting in her attic.  I was thrilled for the clothes!

When my pregnancy ended, my friend told me to just keep the clothes.  I was thrilled and stored them in the attic until my next pregnancy.  The one thing I didn’t consider though was the reality of  the timing of my pregnancies and how that would affect my wardrobe.

For example, I conceived my son a few summers ago.  I didn’t wear maternity clothes until fall, and then I could fit into small or medium outfits.  By the time he was born in spring, I had progressed to large maternity outfits mostly because I had a lot of excess fluid I was carrying.  This year, I began my pregnancy in early December and our child will be born in August.  I have NO summer maternity clothes because I was didn’t need them with my last pregnancy!

Sadly, at my “advanced maternal age”, I am the only one of my friends still bearing babies.  Sharing maternity clothes is not an option.  Oh well…looks like I just may have to go out and buy some NEW maternity clothes.  Part of me feels guilty splurging to buy new clothes when I know this is my last pregnancy.  What a waste of money!  Another part of me tells myself that I am worth that splurge.

What do you think? Did you buy new maternity clothes for yourself during your pregnancy? Did you wear second hand clothes?

It seems that money is tight everywhere; the price of gas, groceries and so much more has sky-rocketed recently. It makes sense, then, to look for gently used items for babies and kids. Anyone who?s ever had a baby knows that she/he outgrows clothing and even toys in the blink of an eye.

This past weekend I hit the jackpot! There was a neighborhood/multi-family yard sale in our neighborhood and after my older boys? soccer games, I managed to find the few families who decided to keep their stuff out for sale well into the afternoon.

The fact that the oldest homes in our neighborhood are only about eight years old, means that the majority of families who live here are younger ones with young children. I found a few families whose kids had outgrown their baby gear and walked away with some amazing finds.

Although we already paid full price on a brand new baby swing, I could not resist the like-new portable baby swing by Fisher Price. It is easily moved from room to room, plays soothing music, and has flashing colorful lights. I got it for an entire five bucks!

It?s nice to have one swing in the family room and the other in the kitchen or wherever I happen to be.

Another purchase was a backseat toy panel for rear-facing babies. I had just been telling my husband that our poor little baby has to stare at the back of the seat for his entire first year. I kept meaning to get him some kind of backseat toy to make car rides a bit more interesting, but never got around to it. I ended up finding a cloth panel with a mirror and colorful pictures of cars on it. I have yet to put batteries in it but can?t wait to see what music/sounds it plays. The cost for this toy: $3.00!

I also found, believe it or not, a matching porta-crib and high chair by The First Years. It was in decent shape and the woman was selling both for $10 total. I took her number, thinking that my mom might be interested in these, as she now has seven grandchildren, three of who are aged 1 or under.

Sure enough, my mom was interested.

Check the classified section of your local paper for garage sales, flea markets, and ?articles for sale?. Keep in mind that newer neighborhoods often tend to be home to younger families and can be the best places to find gear for babies and little kids.