are you all rich or just have a lot of debt?

[mommajubilee]

this is not meant to be a snotty or judgemental question...but i've been seriously wondering how y'all afford to buy soooo many diapers/covers!? really, it just boils down to envy - i would love to go nuts on diapers, but we have *no* money and are trying to reduce our cc debt. so what's your secret? show me the way!

jen

[Cassandra M.]

We are not rich nor are we in debt over diapers!
We are middle class, and have cloth diapered two children. We have saved money by using cloth over disposables.
We buy some cloth diapers, try them out, then resell them to try something else.
We also often buy used diapers over new.
If you are using disposables with wipes, you are spending a minimum of $50 a month on them....that gives you a little leeway when using cloth, because they are reusable and hold thier retail value relatively well!

[traceface]

We're also trying to reduce cc debt, get by with just one income, etc. And I don't really buy too many diapers like some mamas here(Luckily, for some reason I'm so in love lately w/ the plain-cute look - pre-folds and just well-fitting plain covers).

But when I have splurged on dipes (& baby clothes), I always dreamily justify it by thinking, "his little baby body will be here such a short time!" and probably when all is said and done, admiring it and taking care of it will have been one of *the* great pleasures in my life. you know?

[traceface]

forgot to say mommajubilee, hi!

actually I was thinking of youout there in CV, because I was in Garland Park this morning (to fetch ds' hat that was lost - and then found -- when we were hiking there earlier this week w/ a Parents Place group.

[clothcrazymom]

No we aren't rich, and no we don't have any credit card debt. We are a one income family with a nice size house payment and car payment.

I don't cloth diaper to save money. Although I do end up saving money even with all that I buy (I checked the calculation page at Diaper Pin )

I figured out what I might pay for disposable diapers and wipes and feel fine about spending that on cloth....actually even more since there is a return on cloth.

I have all sorts of justifications for why it's ok to spend money on cloth.

But it really is all about choices. Cloth is sortof a hobby of mine for the time being (and has been from time to time over the years - I have older children as well). And while I may have lots and lots of cloth and wool...it's not a matter of not being able to do something else because we bought some diapers or a cover. I wouldn't do that.

[JohnnysGirl]

We're not rich--it's just my only pleasure spending.... I quite splurging on clothes and Victoria's secret and such for myself ages ago, when it lost it's luster (uh, during pregnancy?), and this has become my aesthetic fix!

[allformyboys]

Well we are VERY far from rich (lower middle class if that) we survive on one income (DH's) and I work basically to support my hobbies and for any type of spending money (including new clothes,shoes or things needed by the kids) I would say my diapers are a hobby, luckily Joe is #3 boy so we don't have to buy him much at all otherwise in line of clothes/shoes/jackets and stuff as he has more hand-me-downs then he could ever wear, so I use the money that would be used for that for diapers! Not to mention I also have done a LOT of trades to get a good chunk of my mega stash.

As for CC debt, we have less than $400 on CC's and we tend to pay those off as often as we can. We also were paying $20 or more a week on diapers before using cloth, so if I were to take that and spend it on cloth diapers well that would be spending more than I do now!

[2much2luv]

We aren't rich at all. I treated myself with part of the income tax return this year and now I am selling and buying and trading. But the money is mostly gone so I will be done buying soon and waiting until tax time next year.

[ShabbyChic]

I consider cloth diapering my hobby. I don't do it to save money, as I don't think what I use saves money at all. I am lucky enough to buy what I want when I want it.. We have no debt at all. We use cash to buy everything, including our house. We live by the motto that if we can't pay for it, then we don't buy it. If I was ever in debt, from CDing or anything else, I would stop buying.

[stacey31]

Lordy!
You guys are SOOOOOO responsible. I feel like an idiot.
We aren't rich & have LOTS of CC debt thanks to me
I mean LOTS.
My DH is self emplyed & we homeschool & we live in an affluent area becasue this is where we grew up & family is. ALl that adds up to BIG expenses each month & I WAY overspend for diapers & clothes for the kids.
It is something I feel bad about

[Ackray]

Far from rich... I've been selling stuff that we no longer use on ebay to feed my new hobby! LMAO, I have my paypal account that I keep my DH out of, and he doesn't know how much money I have made selling stuff or spent for that matter on diapering stuffI love this!

[erin978]

I don't spend all that much on diapers. If I could, I would! But dh gives me a pretty hard time if I spend much on them. I have been selling some of my stuff lately and using the paypal for new diapers. I think I've probably only spent about $300 so far, and that's not so bad.

[saharasky]

Debt ... up to my eyeballs ... though it's student loans and not irrational spending (I wish it were ...I might have some nice stuff LOL)

[Austin'smom]

We are probably lower to mid - middle class now (since im not working and DH took a job earning 1/2 of his previous job). I am very thrifty, I rarely buy brand new diapers, but occasionally I will have a little shopping binge. I figure I am still saving money over disposables. I also buy 99% off mine and DS's clothing from Thrifts or Consignment shops. I even did that when we were in the 6 figure range ( when DH had the higher paying job, and I was working). I am just a bargain hunter by nature, and thats my hobby.. be it bedroom furniture or diapers. :LOL :LOL :LOL

[tessamami]

Don't buy it for a minute, some of the women at MDC are very comfortable. Others, cc users, bargain hunters, secondhanders, etc.

ITA however, that using cloth saves a bundle, and if I had a washing machine, I'd have been right here with you all! I just stuck to plain, white pro wraps and a diaper service.

[nym]

Very far from rich! Infact, I get $50 a month to spend on the baby. I buy usually one cover or a diaper and some clothes from the thrift store!

[sweetfeet]

We are not rich, we have a credit card with no balance on it and live on 1 income. I manage money very well and have enough to buy nice diapers and nice clothes for Sophie. I make it a point to buy Baby Lulu over say Geranimals because they have resale value and hold up better. Same goes for more expensive, well made, well known wahm diapers.

[thefeasetree]

okay--I think the OP is really talking to me! :LOL I spend far too much on diapers. We are a 1 income family. I do not put $ on cc, and I often sell diapers and other things to gain paypal. But I don't have to do that. I try to be frugal. We do throw a ton into debt incurred over 5 years ago and we have both our student loans and law school loans to pay off. dh drives a 10 year old car. We didn't use to have expendable income, but we truly do now (dh has received 3 raises in the past 18 months!!) So, whereas I doubt anyone here is going to admit that they are "rich," there might be some like me whose dh's earn an income which might equal a middle class 2-income family. I am very blessed and know it could flip on us at any time.

[stacey31]

Ok.....now I am gonna hide under the chair:
Where all all the ladies who have 2 page lists of all the fluff they are expecting?? Where are all the mamas who buy a rainbow of FUZ??
EEEKS! Am I the only overspender???

[MissSugarKane]

Don't worry Stacey , I am right there with you.Make room under the chair for me.I just didn't feel like responding to this thread at first because it seemed a bit rude to me.

Also I was not sure how to take this:

Don't buy it for a minute, some of the women at MDC are very comfortable.

Is that a joke or an insult? I am confused