Build a Cloth Diaper Stash for Free or Nearly Free

I remember when I first thought about cloth diapering and began my online search. I was kind of blown away by the prices. Then the thought of making a decision was really hard on me. How many diapers did I need or want? And how much was this all going to cost us? I know it can be daunting, but I've figured out a few things along the way and can't wait to share them with you.

Start small. I placed my very first cloth diaper order through Kelly's Closet. I ordered 3 diapers, a BumGenius, Fuzzibunz, and Knickernappies. For about a month, that is what we used. I washed each day and was addicted. I considered washing twice a day, ha!

Order just enough to get that FREE diaper coupon. Those 3 diapers I mentioned above, I got a FREE BumGenius with that order, so we rocked 4 diapers. About once a month, I would place an order with just enough to get that freebie.

Enter giveaways. I got on a hot streak entering giveaways for awhile, and added quite a few to my stash. There are tons of blogs and stores that do giveaways regularly. My favorite place to check for cloth diaper giveaways is at Change-diapers round up.

Check out garage sales, Craigslist, Buy/Sell/Trade groups or even online garage sale sites like Facebook. I see them in our area on Craigslist quite a bit, but I know that depends a lot on location. Just last summer I picked up about 20 SoftBums, tons and tons of inserts, and a wet bag for a whopping $20. Most were hardly ever worn and they were all still on the newborn setting. It was such an awesome score!

Review them. If you have a blog, this can be a great option. If you aren't a blogger though, you may still come across a few WAHM's looking for testers. That is how I got my first review diaper.

Newborn rental. If you are hesitant about buying a newborn stash because they are short lived, many stores offer cloth diaper rentals. If you have a group of friends that cloth diaper, you could have a traveling newborn stash that you all get to use when needed.

Buy clearance. When brands come out with new diapers, often times, their old versions will go on clearance.

Borrow from a friend. If you happen to have a friend not using their stash because they are in between babies, this may be a great option for you.

Make your own. You can chalk this up under things I won't be doing, but it is a great option for many people.

Cloth Diaper Charities. This really only applies to people who are really in need, but there are a few different organizations to help people.

Buy on sale or promotion. If you follow retailers, you will sometimes see % off deals, or even Buy 5 Get 1 FREE, or something similar.

Buy seconds. These diapers are fully functional and usually have a very minor flaw.

Shop at the same retailer each time. Many places offer loyalty perks like Kelly's Closet Diaper Dollars. You earn diaper dollars on your purchase, and can redeem them for gift codes on a future purchase.

These are some great ways to save some green and build a cloth diaper stash. How did you build your stash?

Bio: Shannon lives in the gorgeous Minnesota countryside with her boyfriend, two kids and two dogs. Between going on magic carpet ride adventures with Maggie {3} and taking Charlie {18 months} down from whatever he has climbed {again}, you can find her writing about a little bit of everything, along with some reviews and giveaways at Our Piece of Earth


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