Anybody else buying everything new rather than secondhand?

[Superexcited]

Inspired by another thread.
We are going to buy everything new for the baby despite being on a budget. I know lots of people save tons of cash by having hand me downs given to them or buying off ebay / in charity shops but I want everything new (and fortunately so does DH so no arguments on that front). We did reuse dc1 baby stuff for dc2 but long since got rid of everything. I don't mind reusing my oldest child's things for his younger sibling but I can't being myself to use stuff from other families.
It does make me feel wasteful though when I read threads on here where people are happy to buy second hand. Everyone else seems very thrifty.
Please somebody tell me that I am not the only person who wants everything new.

I was prepared to get everything secondhand but I find here people are very greedy with the prices they sell things for. A secondhand mothercare cot bed would set you back 150e so I got a new one in ikea for around that.

Same with a travel system. Got a cheap one from amazon. I regret that because it's rubbish and do wish I'd tested them all somewhere first.

Books and clothes have all been secondhand though and some bedding. It's all from the local thriftshop so charities and individuals are benefiting. And it's a good charity I'd want to support anyway. And everything she's growing out of will go back there and I'll use the profits to buy other things I do want new like the next car seat.

I did get too much though and some things dd grew out of before she even wore it which feels very wasteful. I sometimes think I'd prefer it if she had a wardrobe full of nice things that I'd chosen but it makes the few decent things even more special. Like the odd couple of dresses I've bought her in the boden sale.

We did save on some bits. I wanted the fp rainforest gym but my mum found a copy of it in the kiddicare sale for about 80 less it just doesn't make noises which is probably a good thing.

I think you can be thrifty and still get things new.

We tried cloth nappies and got them from amazon. Had I have actually got on with them that would have been quite economical too.

If everyone bought second hand then there would be a hell of a lot of unemployment worldwide!

I bought all my initial stuff brand new op, I do however get some toys and stuff off Facebook selling sites now, especially the big items like a jumparoo as you can get them like new for half the price.

I have always thought I would get some second hand clothes but just never have so far.

I don't think it's wasteful as I have already sold stuff on or passed down to bil and sil, plus we've put stuff aside for if we have another baby.

But each to their own. There is a market for both new and second hand stuff, as long as people are selling/donating afterwards rather than dumping I don't see the problem.

If you can afford to then why not? Personally 'the mothercare experience' horrified me, the prices were bloody extortionate to us, although I appreciate they aren't to everyone.

I'd rather buy top quality products second-hand than crap quality products new.

We've barely bought anything (3rd child) because we have loads of friends with kids and all the stuff circulates around the group. The unwritten rule is that you charity shop the worn-out, dreadful stuff and pass on the good quality lots-of-life-left-in-it stuff. There's a sense of pride in passing on good stuff to friends.

Why would you give worn out dreadful stuff to the charity shop? Charity shops need decent condition items to be able to sell them on, they are not an alternative to making a trip to the local tip.

Charity shops can sell worn out items for rag.

With my first we bought everything new. But since then I have got loads of things second hand and passed, sold etc items on. In fact you can usually get your money back if the item is in good condition. With clothes I do try and get good brands. I even bought second hand cloth nappies so maybe have lower standards than most but there are busy fb groups buying and selling these.

Will always buy new car seats and mattresses. I also buy myself second hand things. Google Knickers Model's Own for inspiration. She is fab and stylish and only wearing charity shop finds this year.

Many charity shops pass on unusable clothes for recycling, mine ask for clothes of all conditions...

I don't get the 'wanting everything new' attitude tbh, I was really glad to be given a used moses basket, sling, some toys etc from friends and family with dc1. Where I wasn't given things I bought from eBay (eg a bumbo that I could clean before use) and I bought some new things, such as an icandy which was worth every penny as used by two dc for six years in total!

My choice (and not for everyone of course!) was that as baby doesn't care where their things came from, if I could get decent second hand then why not?!I know shops love to take your money, but I'd rather put my savings into an isa for dc which they can use towards something useful when they are 18 (hopefully!)

As others have said, those secondhand things have to come from somewhere, someone has to buy them new. Only thing that really matters is if you can afford them - if you're taking out payday loans to get all brand new stuff, then no, that's not very reasonable.

In our case, we have a mix of old and new. Car seat and buggy were new. Clothes can be washed and newborns grow out of them so fast, so must ebay bundlers I got look brand new anyway, just for a fraction of the price, so I have no problems buying those.

I do agree that it's better to buy good quality second hand than crap quality new.

Agree with carrier - we could have easily bought everything brand new for our first (and only) child - but to us it seemed so wasteful. We started a pension with his child benefit and in addition he already has substantial savings for university/deposit on s property or whatever.

By all means spend your money as you want, but don't be like my ILs who have to have everything brand new for their spoiled children but have no savings and are already moaning about university fees.

I loved being given a load of secondhand stuff; we bought next to nothing new! We were in the fortunate position of having quite a few friends and family with slightly older kids, so we got handed down lots of things. If we hadn't, I think I would have bought some stuff secondhand, but maybe would have got a bit more new stuff - I wouldn't be confident buying off EBay, for instance. But then I always know someone having a baby, so I would have had someone to pass it all on to if I did buy new.

Anything I do buy new, I buy to last - I don't go for trendy brands, but I don't mind passing more for something good quality that will last several owners. I hate to see stuff that's basically made to be "disposable"; cheaply made, poor quality, breaks or wears out quickly.

I exchanged quite a lot of baby clothes for more neutral versions, as we were bought a lot of very "boyish" stuff, and I'd rather be able to reuse it if we have a girl next!

We've been able to save enough money to start a savings account for the DCs, so I'm glad about that - would rather do that than spend it all on new baby stuff when we don't need to.

I'm not sure why you want clarification/approval about this! It is totally your choice whether to buy brand new or not :) I personally did half and half. Bought new when it came to pram, cot, all mattresses as that's whats recommended...and only have 2nd hand if its come from good friends and is in good condition, i.e. car seat, bouncer, play mat, crib. I have saved a fortune by doing this which is most satisfying lol. I have been on a mission to find cheapest nappies (ALDI) and creams, washes etc. The Boots app is also great for free bottles and cheap offers etc. We also bought our Perfect Prep machine and starter steriliser kit on boxing day for the cheapest it's even been! It's always worth looking around for a while if you have the time. Taking my time reviewing products and waiting for best prices has been great...oh and not over buying just because it's our first child.

CoutingThePennies, was your comment meant to be ironic considering your name???
'I have one child and bought everything new.
It cost me £3000 for everything.
Im not really a fan of second hand stuff.'