A mum who refused to spend thousands on baby gear revealed how she bought all the essentials for just £365.
Sophie Angell is expecting a baby girl with her husband Paul, 39, in September.
The 37-year-old is already mum to Finn, eight, and Lily, four, and after giving away every piece of baby equipment when they thought their family was complete, has found herself having to start from scratch.
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But instead of splashing out on expensive new products, she turned to Facebook Marketplace, charity shops, giveaway groups and family friends, picking up premium-brand baby items for a fraction of their original price.
The mum-of-two estimates she saved more than £3,000 and instead spent just £365.
“I was confident I could get everything for £1,300, but the reality was much less,” Sophie, a growth consultant from Ribble Valley, Lancs, told What’s The Jam.
“With my first baby, we spent over £1,500 on a travel system alone that quickly became too bulky and heavy, so was swapped out for a cheaper lightweight version we used every day for years.
“There were so many things with my first that we just never used and felt like a total waste of money.
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“I was fully prepared to treat myself to a brand new travel system this time because researching and purchasing one is a fun experience; however, once we’d found the model we wanted, a quick Facebook Marketplace search showed me the exact make and model for sale locally for £100, less than 10% of the price in store.
“It was just a no-brainer.
“I made a list of everything we needed and just kept a look out through my pregnancy.
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“If there was something that caught my eye, I bought it there and then rather than shopping for everything in one go.
“I worked out how much I’d saved by putting the exact make and model of the things I’d bought into ChatGPT, and it showed me their current full price value.”
Among her biggest bargains are two near brand-new Bugaboo prams bought from Facebook Marketplace for £100 each.
The prams, which came with accessories including footmuffs, rain covers and a buggy board for older daughter Lily, would have cost around £1,000 each new, according to Sophie.
She also bought a Joie 360 car seat from a trusted family friend for £40, a Doona car seat for £50, a DockATot for £50, a baby sling for £10, a Moses basket for £10 and a portable steriliser for £5.
Other essentials, including an Ergo baby carrier and a Maxi-Cosi Iora bedside crib, were picked up for free through family friends and local Facebook giveaway groups.
Sophie said one of her favourite places to shop was her local Barnardo’s children’s store, where she regularly spotted premium baby products at heavily discounted prices.
She said: “It really amazes me how many things you can get in Barnardo’s for a fraction of the price, like double jogger prams, walkers and jumparoos.
“So many of these big items cost a fortune, and there’s no guarantee your baby will like them; it’s such a waste of money
“Charity shops get new things in daily, so make friends with the ladies in the shop and ask them to call you if there’s something specific you’re looking for.
“Charity shops in affluent areas are absolute gold mines.”
Sophie also recommends checking Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, local baby sales, supermarket promotions, outlet stores and Aldi’s middle aisle.
She even set up ChatGPT alerts to notify her when major baby retailers launched sales.
She always buys a brand-new mattress for cots, prams and Moses baskets to follow safe sleep guidance and would only ever buy a second-hand car seat from somebody she knows personally so she can be certain it has never been involved in an accident.
Before using any item, she steam-cleans it and disinfects it using hypochlorous acid spray.
Sophie said: “Go into the store and make a list of everything you’d like and then search the second-hand platforms using the same brand names and models.”
“Create a list or Google Sheet and share with your family and friends.
“People will want to buy you things, but without direction you’ll end up with 100 newborn onesies.
“It’s better to ask for actually useful things.
“They can keep an eye out in their local area for bargains too.”
“Research when supermarkets or Amazon have their big sales and buy nappies and wipes in bulk.
“If you’re struggling to find a particular item, post a request on a local Facebook group.
“Pay it forward.
“I’ll be giving away my haul after I’ve used it so other parents can benefit too.”
Sophie believes the £3,000 she has saved will make a real difference as her family prepares for their new arrival.
She added: “Saving £3,000 will mean we can bank that money and, as someone who is self-employed, help me have longer at home with my baby.
“I felt less financial pressure because I knew I wouldn’t need to spend crazy amounts.
“I haven’t bought this baby any clothes at all, for example, because I knew family and friends would buy more than enough.
“Babies actually don’t need that much.”
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