To engage in poverty hording ?

[KazenoTaninoNaushika]

We're tidying up the baby's room: all the old baby clothes, every last sock, every toy DC has grown out of, every blanket, muslin, snuggly piece of crap all packed in vacuum bags lest another LO turns up in future. It's a financial thing....we are

[NotAlice]

We earn 45k between us, did exactly the same and were very grateful to our selves from the past!
You're being very sensible, reducing waste and reducing the time you'll have to trail around shopping for baby stuff should another little one appear! (which trust me will be less fun with a toddler/small child in tow )

[sticklebrix]

We did exactly the same and saved loads of money on kit for younger siblings. After the last DC I kept everything for 5 years just in case and then passed it on. I think you're being sensible.

[MatildaTheCat]

Are you asking if storing decent kit for which you will very likely have a use in the next few years is reasonable? How could it not be so?

Only very few people odd IMO buy everything new for second and subsequent babies.

[Allthebestnamesareused]

Very sensible. We are both solicitors and did it and after the last sold it to buy the next lot of kit. Now my 15 year old sells his old clothes and games to buy new stuff too.

[EB123]

We did it, I have 3 boys and my youngest is wearing things my eldest wore. Some of them were even worn by my nephew before him.

[pitterpatterrain]

Of course it is sensible. We have loads in vacuum bags. I would find it odd if someone got rid of it all then re-bought tbh.

We have a good income and are certainly happy at getting hand-me-downs from my SIL two DC, and are keeping all DD1 things for DD2.

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

I was grateful my mum did this. My sister is 10 years younger than me, and my mum had kept all my basic baby clothes (baby grows, vests, cloth nappies etc) and used them for my sister, then put them back in storage and then passed them on to me when DS was born - we were brassic so chuffed to have so many essentials already. She also kept the bottle warmer, crib, cot bed, bedding, car seat and loads of toys - all I had to buy was a second hand pram.

[CigarsofthePharoahs]

Sensible. I saved almost everything from dc1. Still do keep a lot of his old stuff.
Dc2 is as yet too little to care. He does get a few new bits though!
I did enjoy getting all the baby stuff out again when he was on the way. All the ickle socks!

[CheeseCrackersAndWine]

When my first was younger and growing out of things we had a joint income of over £70K and I kept every last vest, hat, pair of socks etc! I was super grateful for it when no.2 came along and my DH was a student (career change!) working a minimum wage job on the side and I was on mat leave! DH not a student anymore but still not earning anything near his old wage and I'm still glad we kept everything. Getting rid of it all this time round though as we are not having anymore. So definitely very sensible! Hoard away.

[Emphasise]

IME,it's a class thing, not a poverty thing. My lower MC family, reasonably comfortable wouldn't dream of buying new for second and subsequent children. My sister's children, who are dgc 3&4 on both sides mostly have fourth hand stuff and it's nothing to do with not being able to buy new, just that there's perfectly good stuff going begging.

At the very deprived primary where I worked parents were horrified at the idea of hand me down, even though many could barely make ends meet.

[BigGreenOlives]

We did this. I would think less of anyone who didn't, why would you waste perfectly good things. All 3 dc wore the same baby clothes as I bought yellow, white or green clothes. We used the same pram, car seat, high chair etc. We own multiple houses outright & have had no debt since 1995 (when we paid off the mortgage on our first home). I am going to a black tie event soon & have been to charity shops to see if I can find something as I don't need new for something I'll only wear once.

[alteredimages]

Only sensible if there's a fair chance of you having more DCs. Otherwise sell on ebay, gumtree, whatever.

We are similarly badly off and managed to buy anything DC2 was missing secondhand for less than we sold DC1s stuff for.

Keep a couple of things you are especially fond of and would like to keep and sell the rest.

[luckylucky24]

I did it.
A neighbour posting that she was selling her moses basket (almost new) because it was pink and she was expecting a boy. I find this baffling and told her.

[Pastaagain78]

We aren't that hard up but our baby stuff saw through 3 kids. It all went up in the loft after each baby/child in bags labelled with the size. It's only now that we have completed our family that the stuff is going out of the house. You are being sensible.

[imip]

Gosh, I did it for all 4 dcs and I still keep the very special stuff for dgc!!! (E.g. Stuff knitted by relatives, the first clothes they wore etc etc. With all the other stuff, I hand it on to a friend whose a bit skint and has 3 dds. I get all sentimental when her dcs wear our outgrown clothes.

[KazenoTaninoNaushika]

I'm popping in to read in between vacuuming the air out of the plastic bags....and - can I say? - you're ALL lovely!! What a nice response from so many different experiences. I will henceforth save and pack as before! A rare occasion when the AIBU totally agrees with the posters' replies . A ro you

[wickerlampshade]

Very sensible. I saved everything and we're on a much higher income. why not? when number two was a boy gave away all the pink frilly stuff to a relative.

[Wando1986]

Why wouldn't you do it? I mean... if you want to donate it, I'm due in about 5 weeks but no, you're doing the right thing! Of course you are!

[SolomanDaisy]

Doesn't everyone do this? I did it even though we weren't very likely to conceive again! By the time we did the car seat was too old to be used!

[sodabreadjam]

I thought just about everyone did this. Crazy not to - especially if the stuff is in good condition.

[expatinscotland]

Why buy new stuff if not necessary? It's wasteful.

[TinfoilHattie]

This is nothing to do with your financial situation, money or lack of it. It makes no sense to throw perfectly good stuff out, and then buy more. It's consumerist, spending for the sake of it and using up extra resources when unnecessary. Save everything in good condition. If another DC doesn't come along, give it to charity.

[HerOtherHalf]

We hate throwing out stuff that is still perfectly good just because we no longer have a need for it. Some goes to charity shops and friends but a lot seems to go into the spare room and then, as that fills up, into the attic. Our grandchildren are now enjoying the use of toys and some clothes that were originally their parent's or aunt/uncle's. It's not a financial thing for us, we just struggle to throw things out that might still be useful.

[SparklyLeprechaun]

Perfectly sensible. We are high earners and kept everything still usable from DC1 to be used by DC2. Why throw away perfectly good stuff just to buy it again later?

[silkpyjamasallday]

My parents hoarded all of my brother and my baby things, and as a result I didn't need to buy a cot or change table or any toys as everything is as new practically despite being almost a quarter of a century old. If it isn't taking up space you need why throw it away or sell it at a loss, keep it if you can, you never know when it will be useful. It has saved us an absolute fortune and will continue to do so as we cycle through the different ages the toys are suitable for.