Looks like crossed wires to me - hope you're both ok @namechangeanonymous and @AppleTree16 - if anything looked like apple tree was replying to the post before namechange!!
For my tuppence worth, we did a mix. We spent an eyewatering amount on a travel system for my first (my mum wanted to contribute) we got a silver cross pioneer and we are still using it now 3.5 years later and it will see us for no3 too. I used a professional company to get it cleaned in between and would really recommend looking them up if you want to scrub up a pram you had before or if you've bought a second hand one you would like to spruce, they honestly made it like new! But having it did really make it feel exciting as first time parents!
We had to amazon prime a carseat to the hospital when my first was born as he came early and we weren't ready haha!
I didn't buy any clothes myself for my son until he was nearly 1 as we got given soooo many by friends, we were really lucky. We were also lent a Moses basket (which never got used as he was a velcro baby) but I bought a next2me which we used for first two. it's been through the wars now so we are borrowing a snuzpod for no3 as its our final baby, and I'll just get a new mattress.
I remember thinking everyone was so kind and generous with our first and then I discovered its just because you end up with so much stuff, most of it essential but only for a really short period of time so then you want it out of your house to fit in the next short-term essential item haha so you just want to pass it on! e.g. a bouncy chair I couldn't be without... for 3 months. then we needed a bumbo, then a playpen. with clothes I would keep and use the ones I liked and pass on to friends anything else each time/when they grew out. I kept my favourites for the next baby.
@CaptainCarp
that's so annoying but does that give you any leverage to discuss a pay rise where you are, perhaps?