Having a baby doesn't come cheap, but the clothes a mom-to-be buys for her pregnancy don't have to be something that blows her budget. Finding cheap maternity clothes is easy when you know where to look.
Save Money with Secondhand Maternity Wear
One of the easiest ways to stock up on secondhand maternity wear is by hitting up friends and family for any pregnancy clothing they might have stashed away. Most people are happy to let others borrow their lightly used maternity clothing.
For those without a nearby network of women who've already had their babies, thrift stores and garage sales are two other places where cheap maternity clothes can be purchased secondhand.
Freecycle is another option for securing a maternity wardrobe on the cheap. This service hooks up people who want to donate something with those who could use it, recycling things within a community instead of having it head to a landfill.
Shopping Online for Cheap Maternity Clothes
Local classifieds, such as those supported by local newspaper sites and the mega-site Craigslist, are great places to find bargain maternity wear. Joining message boards and mailing list groups of other local moms and moms-to-be can be another great source of possible pregnancy clothing options.
As far as online maternity clothing sales go, some shops offer discounts for ordering online while others sometimes promote web-only specials. Sites selling overstocks, clothes that the store bought too many of and now must sell at a discount to clean out room, are popular for those wanting to find cheap outfits for throughout their pregnancy.
Dress Like a Guy to Save Money on Pregnancy Clothes
For basic items like T-shirts or elastic-waisted pants, some women try heading to the men's department. Sizes there are naturally skewed larger and can often accommodate a growing belly for prices much less expensive than corresponding items specified as maternity wear. Of course, another option is to borrow some of these items from the closet of the daddy-to-be for a few months.
Plan Pregnancy Clothes Ahead of Time and Shop Off Season
Whether the pregnancy itself was planned or is a joyous surprise, the clothes a woman buys to cover her growing bump can definitely be arranged in advance. Most women don't need full maternity wear until the sixth or seventh month, so many choose to buy just a few stretchy pieces to tide them over in the interim.
Shopping during end-of- season sales at the very start of pregnancy can lead to great bargains on clothes that will be perfect for the weather at the end of pregnancy.
One advantage of planning ahead is that the mother-to-be can decide what pieces are really necessary and what things are optional long before she starts showing. The real key to saving money on maternity clothing is not to go overboard, buying only the things that are truly necessary and that can't be borrowed or gotten for free.
No matter what maternity clothes a woman chooses to wear during her pregnancy, the most beautiful thing about her will be the lovely glow that pregnancy produces. Choosing to buy bargain maternity clothes will give her more money to spend on things for the new baby and ease a little of the financial burden that impending parenthood brings.
Bridget Coila - I'm a cell and molecular biologist, freelance writer and photographer currently living in Beijing, China. I'm fascinated by science, ...
Join the Conversation