Beat the credit crunch by shopping online

There’s a new breed of money-savvy mummies, with genius ways of beating the credit crunch Cash-strapped parents are finding new ways to kit out their baby without hitting their bank balance. 

A new study from eBay has found an emerging trend spearheaded by mothers pegged as ‘shopping neutral’ – the premise being that you offset the cost of new purchases by selling things you no longer need. ‘Despite the economic climate, people still want to shop,’ says financial expert Sue Hayward. ‘Selling unwanted items to fund new purchases means mums can have what they want without sacrificing their lifestyle.’ Take a lead from a group of Norwich mothers, who have sold £42,238 worth of baby items after spending £30,361 on ebay.co.uk. That’s a profit of £11,877. Here are some clues on where to start.

 
www.ebay.co.uk
With 14 million Brits a month buying and selling on this auction website, it’s a haven for mums looking to buy new or used baby items to sell on when they’re outgrown.
Top tip When buying, bear in mind the resale value of an item before deciding between new and second-hand. Vintage coach-built prams, such as the classic Silver Cross ones, will hold their value, but cheap buggies are harder to sell on later. 

www.ebabyland.co.uk
If, like most parents, you have piles of outgrown baby clothes lying around, you’ll love ebabyland. It’s not the same as eBay, but it’s a great site with a swap shop where you can literally exchange items with other members. Costs £50 for a year’s subscription and you can switch as many times as you like.
Top tip Spread the word about the site, and your loyalty will be rewarded. If you can persuade 10 mummy mates to subscribe to ebabyland for a year, you’ll receive £50 – essentially cancelling out your membership fee.

www.freecycle.org.uk
The Freecycle Network is made up of 4500 groups, with over five million members worldwide. You can join a local group for free, and give and receive stuff – also for free. The idea is to promote recycling and keep perfectly good equipment out of landfill sites, but it’s also a great way of saving money.
Top tip Don’t expect to find everything that you’re looking for – this site is a bit hit and miss.

www.freestuff.co.uk
Does exactly what it says – offers you gratis gear, like Pampers vouchers and weaning spoons. There’s a ‘Free Baby Stuff’ section, filled with the latest offers and discount vouchers, plus chances to win shopping sprees.
Top tip Check as often as possible to grab a bargain and ensure you don’t miss out on the latest deals.