Who doesn't love a baby shower? So often, they are a opening for the generations to secure and celebrate a new life in the house and circle of friends. The basic factory of the baby shower is to gift the new parents with all the baby gear they will need for their new small miracle. I've attended showers in the local firehouse hall, in the grandparent's basement and at upscale eateries. But wherever I am invited, I have to budget for a gift.
Recently I was invited to a shower for which the parents-to-be had pre-registered for gifts they wanted at a local retailer. At first glance, I belief this was a great idea. With so many baby gear items to choose from today, I belief it was nice that the new parents could pre-select the things they most wanted. But baby shower gift registries have some inherent built in problems.
First and foremost, if the expectant consolidate fills out their registry in a store, it is extremely likely that an overzealous salesperson will point them to the latest, greatest and yes, most high-priced gear in the store. These citizen work on commission after all. And the parents are so immersed in this staggering baby miracle, they often lose sight of practicality.
So what is a shower guest to do? That's easy. The guest should remember that they have been invited to the shower because they are close in the parent's circle of relatives and friends. Sure everyone is going to ohhh and ahhh over the big marker items. Then baby comes and mom is reaching for the diaper ointment at 3am. Right about then she is going to appreciate Great Aunt Mildred like she never has before.
What does Great Aunt Mildred have to do with diaper ointment? Well Great Aunt Mildred is on a fixed income. She has small discretionary wage to throw around. So she plans in strengthen for wedding and baby gifts that she knows will pop up year in and out. Below, are some of Great Aunt Mildred's baby shower gift budget tips.
Small Necessities Gift Basket
Great Aunt Mildred has a signature gift and all the new mothers in her house look forward to it. The "Small Necessities Gift Basket" is roughly a legend in the family. All year long, Great Aunt Mildred keeps an eye out for two-for-one type sales and super markdowns on the most basic baby products. She watches for the best deals on things like facial tissue, ear swabs and baby shampoo.
She also keeps an eye out for creative containers to use as gift baskets. Her beloved "basket" is one made from a movable baby potty. Not the high-priced potty Mom has listed on her gift registry, but the reduction potty that Mom will leave in her car trunk and find so handy when visiting away from home. Bath tubs, laundry baskets, diaper pails, all have been pressed into service to generate a one of a kind thoughtful gift on a budget. Milly plainly buys some basket cellophane at her dollar store, and ties on a rattle with ribbon.
Coupons
But Great Aunt Mildred doesn't stop there, of policy not. She is much too clever for that. She clips coupons ordinarily for baby products. Some she uses to buy items for her gift baskets. Others she tucks in the gift basket for the new parents. Great Aunt Mildred has raised a few babes in her time and she knows new Moms don't have time to clip coupons. She even separates the coupons by type into plain envelopes that she also purchases at her reduction store and keeps on hand.
Coin Jar
At the outset, we said Great Aunt Mildred is on a fixed budget. She knows that the best way to save money is to be prepared. When she cleans out her purse and pockets, she puts all her convert in an empty mayonnaise jar. She could buy a piggy bank but Milly is way too economical for that. Why buy a bank when a jar will do just as well? The extra convert she accumulates in her jar is used to purchase small necessities and baskets. Every consolidate of months, Milly rolls her coins and exchanges them for bills at the bank. The bills go back in the jar and Milly has a handy cash stash when she goes out shopping.
The Chip In
Sometimes the new Mom is a close relative and Great Aunt Mildred wants to gift her with a surely wow item. So she picks up the phone and calls her sister, Great Aunt Tilly. Together they work their network of relatives until they have enough participants to divvy up the cost of a big marker item without busting anyone's budget. The chip in works great in large families. Great Aunt Mildred often wonders why it is so high-priced to outfit a new baby today. In her day, it was very different. But rather than ask why, she plainly uses her economical wiles to make sure the new Mom gets what she surely wants.
Remembering Why
Great Aunt Mildred knows why she was invited to the shower. Her attendance is part of the circle of life, the continuity of her house and circle of friends. She knows she was not invited for her gift. She knows the new parents understand her budget. She brings joy to the party and no gift can replace that.
If you're planning to attend a baby shower or you just like to browse pretty pink and blue things, stop by http://babystrollerzone.com. Take a look at our catalog and articles. And most of all, please comment. We love the encouragement.
Baby Shower Guest budget