Before Ruby was born I knew that I wanted to buy used as much as possible. 80% of Ruby’s clothes are used, mostly from Once Upon A Child. I’ll happily pay $7 for an adorable dress from Baby Gap that would have originally run about $40. I’ve actually gotten to the point where I rarely shop at OUAC unless they are running one of their seasonal sales. All of the sudden the $7 dress becomes $3.50 or even $1.75. I have purchased a few things from Goodwill for only $0.75 (some stores have 50% off of infant and toddler clothes on the weekends) but it’s so hit and miss there that I haven’t dug in a while. You can also find used clothes on eBay. With all my ample time lately I’ve been poking around there as well. There are a lot of options but lots of times with the shipping cost I don’t feel the clothes are worth the cost unless its something I LOVE. Currently I am watching a little jumper that has tiny little landmarks from Rome all over it. This I must have.
The other 20% of her clothes are gifts or deals that I picked up at Target, Old Navy, or Baby Gap. When Gap offers an additional 40% off the lowest clearance price is is very easy to get clothes for under $10. Last year I picked up 3 pairs of skinny jeans for only $6 a piece, setting her up with skinny jeans for a long time. This year I picked up the most adorable red wool coat, originally $68, for $8. That’s what I’m talking about. Sometime it isn’t about used as much as it is cheap 
The largest portion of what I buy used is probably clothes (how can I resist all those adorable little girl clothes?), but a lot of her toys are used too, picked up at various Goodwills. I’d rather her not play with, or get bored with, a toy that cost $1 than one that cost $12. Chew to death a $0.50 book from Goodwill? No biggie. When she tore the flaps from a book given to her by a friend (sorry, Mere) I was bummed and had to try to explain to her the concept of “books aren’t for tearing!”
Although I didn’t get her crib or dresser used (in hindsight I should have, I just loved the ones we got so much) but I picked up her changing table at Goodwill for $5. I’d always said, Who needs a changing table? Just change them on the couch/bed/floor-then the squirming started. Best $5 ever. My breastpump was a major Craigslist score. $75 for an older model InStyle pump with 4 horn, more spare parts than you might ever need, a box of the steam sterilizing-whatever-bags, and at least a dozen bottles. That pump got me through a year of pumping so I consider that a heck of a bargain!
Sometimes buying used takes patience so if it is an immediate need then I might have to get something new but I’ve learned that eventually you’ll find what you were looking for. For example: one thing I really wanted was the Boon Frog Pod for Ruby’s bath toys, but I didn’t want to pay the $30 for a new one. I missed one at OUAC (someone was checking out with it as I went up to the register) but lo and behold I found one 2 weeks later at Peddler’s for $5.
Some people may not be too keen on buying used but I personally don’t think there’s anything wrong with used items. If I could I’d buy pretty much everything used (with the exception of undergarments), not only do I feel it is more environmentally conscious to re-use items but I am cheap! I’ve been in retail for 14 years and I work on a team that goes around the store and marks merchandise down. I have both a general idea of how much things are marked up and the opportunity to purchase stuff at a discounted price. As a bonus, by buying used we can take the money that we’ve saved and put it towards an awesome vacation….daycare.
