A mum has saved £2,500 by only buying two new things for her baby since he was born 17 months ago – getting everything else second hand, including nappies. Minke Van Til, 31, managed to save thousands by getting toys, clothes, a cot and a mattress for free for her 17-month-old baby, Louis Beviss.
Minke used an app called YoungPlanet- which enables families to give and get pre-loved children’s toys and parenting items for free – after hearing about it from a mum at her son’s playgroup. She also uses charity shops, Ebay, Gumtree, Vinted and Facebook Market Place to find second hand items for her baby.
The family, including husband, Harry Beviss, 31, who works in technology, have only bought two new things; a car seat and a pack of vests. They were advised to buy a £100 car seat new due to safety concerns and needed specific sized vests that they couldn’t find for free or second hand.
Minke has bought a £10 Play Kitchen for Louis for Christmas from Facebook Market Place, but plans to buy new gifts for friends and family. Minke, a co-director at a charity, said: “I have saved thousands by buying second hand or getting it for free from other parents.
“You don’t need all this stuff unless you have a baby and everything has a short shelf life in a babies world. I would walk to pick up items from other mums in my area which gave me something to do with my day on maternity leave too.
“I got loads of reusable nappies for free at an event where we swapped baby stuff. We also got our cot and mattress for free which would have cost about £400 new.
“We just wash everything on a high temperature. Once it no longer fits Louis we pass it on too.”
Minke has always made it a habit of hers to shop environmentally – and buys her own clothes and furniture second hand as much as possible. She had the same view point when it came to buying items for her new arrival Louis, who was born in June 2021.
“It’s a general lifestyle for me,” she said. “I found out about the app through a mum at playgroup when I told her I was looking for a snowsuit for Louis.
“She showed me the app and sure enough I found someone who lived nearby who had one perfect for Louis. I’ve got so many good branded baby clothes for free and I then pass them on.
“We’ve probably gone through about £1k worth of toys and got them all for free.”
Minke would walk to collect the parenting items while she was on maternity leave. She said: “I would walk for miles to get stuff.
“It gave me something to on that day. I would say 90 per cent of Louis’ items are second hand or free.
“I got his buggy for free and new they can be around £500. The only thing we bought new was a car seat because of safety issues with used ones and the odd specific sized vest.”
By saving £2.5k in the last eight months on parenting items, Minke is able to put the money towards things they really need and family holidays such as a recent trip to Thailand. “New things are a lot more money and a big plastic waste,” she said.
“A baby can wear something for a month and then grow out of it.”