Sometimes it seems like a whole group of friends get married roughly around the same time, one right after another. A couple years later it’s also common for that same group of friends to begin to have babies around the same time as well. If you find yourself surrounded by a group of friends that are also starting families you should combine your resources and begin a Hand-Me-Down Club.
Part of the fun when you have a baby is shopping for all the adorable little things baby will need, but those expenses really add up. Couples usually get a lot of gifts at their baby shower, but it’s never everything you’ll need and babies grow so quickly you’ll soon need more of everything – bigger clothes, a larger car seat, the list is endless. Get together with your friends with kids and catalog the things you all have that you can lend to one another. A playpen to take on a trip, a bouncy seat that will only be useful for a small infant. These things are often just taking up space in the basements of parents. Organize the list so you can swap and trade and hand things down to new parents as they need them. Parents who need certain things can go to the group and see if anyone has it. You won’t have to buy everything new and you won’t be stuck with all blue items when your second baby comes along and you need some pink stuff.