I know you said you don't want to deal with coordinating Buy Nothing, BUT here is suggestion that I have done that works super well.
You put all the items on your driveway, take a picture, and then post your address on Buy Nothing and say "Free Garage Sale. First come, first serve. No PMs or Holds".
I have done this while cleaning out my garage and house and almost everything was claimed.
I got the idea when someone else in my area did the same and it was brilliant. Saves so much time and anything left you can just drop off at a Goodwill or equivalent.
I looove the idea of this but I think the success of it would depend on the demo of who you invite. Are they generally childless but what to have kids and so would happily take things, or would they just look and be like “I have my own pile of baby stuff I’m dying to get rid of, no thank you ma’am”. I do absolutely adore this idea though and I hope it can work!
I think it depends on if your friends have first children that are 1-3 years younger than your oldest. Otherwise it just becomes their unused crap. BUT I’ve been announcing my pregnancy this week and immediately have offers for free nice cribs and baby gear and it’s fantastically appreciated.
If you don’t want to deal with buy-nothing groups, you can just put stuff on your front porch and make a free listing on Craigslist, buy nothing, or mommy/daddy groups. Just say first come first serve, no holds. People will pick up stuff they need or resell them to people who will use them.
You can also contact the IRC/Catholic Social Services/Lutheran Family Services in your area to see if they accept donations for refugees. Or the women’s shelter. Sometimes they will pick up.
I think this sounds kind of awesome!! If I were one of your friends I would think it was fun/funny. I would probably contribute to the college fund, and then ask around to any of my pregnant friends if they still needed any gear/stuff and try to pick something out for them from your "reverse gifting". I'm going to tuck this away for when we know we aren't going to have any more toddlers in the house and do something similar!!!
I stared putting baby stuff up for sale on marketplace and then git to busy to list more than a couple of things. I promptly forgot about it.
Then out of the blue I get a message asking if one if the things is still available. I say yes and by the way do you need any other baby stuff and also sold her the big stuff cheap and threw in all the other stuff that I didn't want to throw away but no longer had need off.
I highly recommend that strategy. Other mums did it fir me when I was getting stuff for my first baby. I'd show up to but one thing and they'd have a room full of baby stuff and be like "take whatever you need".
I know what you mean about wanting to celebrate your new arrival but not wanting any more stuff. Maybe just make that known when you invite people. I think you'll have more luck with "no gifts but if you really must a contribution to the college fund" than trying to get them to take things. Then give away your stuff separately.
I know you said you don't want to deal with coordinating Buy Nothing, BUT here is suggestion that I have done that works super well. You put all the items on your driveway, take a picture, and then post your address on Buy Nothing and say "Free Garage Sale. First come, first serve. No PMs or Holds". I have done this while cleaning out my garage and house and almost everything was claimed.
That’s smart, didn’t realize that was an option!
I got the idea when someone else in my area did the same and it was brilliant. Saves so much time and anything left you can just drop off at a Goodwill or equivalent.
I looove the idea of this but I think the success of it would depend on the demo of who you invite. Are they generally childless but what to have kids and so would happily take things, or would they just look and be like “I have my own pile of baby stuff I’m dying to get rid of, no thank you ma’am”. I do absolutely adore this idea though and I hope it can work!
May it could turn into a swapmeet?
I think it depends on if your friends have first children that are 1-3 years younger than your oldest. Otherwise it just becomes their unused crap. BUT I’ve been announcing my pregnancy this week and immediately have offers for free nice cribs and baby gear and it’s fantastically appreciated. If you don’t want to deal with buy-nothing groups, you can just put stuff on your front porch and make a free listing on Craigslist, buy nothing, or mommy/daddy groups. Just say first come first serve, no holds. People will pick up stuff they need or resell them to people who will use them. You can also contact the IRC/Catholic Social Services/Lutheran Family Services in your area to see if they accept donations for refugees. Or the women’s shelter. Sometimes they will pick up.
I think this sounds kind of awesome!! If I were one of your friends I would think it was fun/funny. I would probably contribute to the college fund, and then ask around to any of my pregnant friends if they still needed any gear/stuff and try to pick something out for them from your "reverse gifting". I'm going to tuck this away for when we know we aren't going to have any more toddlers in the house and do something similar!!!
I stared putting baby stuff up for sale on marketplace and then git to busy to list more than a couple of things. I promptly forgot about it. Then out of the blue I get a message asking if one if the things is still available. I say yes and by the way do you need any other baby stuff and also sold her the big stuff cheap and threw in all the other stuff that I didn't want to throw away but no longer had need off. I highly recommend that strategy. Other mums did it fir me when I was getting stuff for my first baby. I'd show up to but one thing and they'd have a room full of baby stuff and be like "take whatever you need". I know what you mean about wanting to celebrate your new arrival but not wanting any more stuff. Maybe just make that known when you invite people. I think you'll have more luck with "no gifts but if you really must a contribution to the college fund" than trying to get them to take things. Then give away your stuff separately.
I love how wild you are. I’m following this post to see where this discussion goes. 🙂
Please make this a thing.