It’s quite fascinating. Despite what the media says about lowering birth rates and couples opting out of having kids, I’m still getting invites to baby showers. In fact, I’ve been invited to eight in under a year, with the latest one coming up in July. So, if you find yourself heading to a baby shower, here are some practical tips to save money and give gifts that new parents will truly appreciate.
**Use Discounts and Coupons**
I didn’t expect to attend eight baby showers in a year, but I knew a few were coming up, so I prepared in advance. I took advantage of sales at Kohl’s, combining their 30% discount with an additional $10 off on $30 worth of kids’ clothes. During the winter, I focused on buying discounted summer baby outfits on clearance. Since new parents usually get a ton of newborn clothes, I aimed for sizes around 9-12 months. Besides clothes, I used coupons on baby essentials like Aveeno Baby lotions. By leveraging Target gift cards, manufacturer’s coupons, Cartwheel, and Target coupons, I managed to snag these lotions for about $1.50 each. I used similar tactics to score deals on crib sheets. If you know you have a baby shower coming up, start scouting for deals early and stock up when prices drop.
**Check Out Facebook Marketplace**
Although I haven’t used Facebook Marketplace for gifts specifically, it’s a great place to find bargains. I’m part of several local groups for buying and selling baby and children’s items. This platform not only allows me to sell things I no longer need but also lets me buy items at a much lower cost. Many new moms often list brand new items that they don’t need at discounted prices. If you’re part of these groups, post an ISO (In Search Of) for NWT (New With Tags) baby items and keep an eye out for good deals.
**Consider Giving Bonds**
Bonds might not be the most glamorous gift, but they’re incredibly practical. While they don’t come wrapped in cute paper, they do appreciate over time. A $25 bond today could be worth $50 or more when the child grows older.
All new moms can tell you that baby showers often result in a glut of unnecessary or duplicate gifts. You don’t have to break the bank just because you’re invited to multiple baby showers. In fact, it’s often better to give small, practical gifts that will definitely be used rather than spending big on something that might get tucked away and forgotten.