When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I was so excited! After only 10 short weeks, my regular pants were no longer fitting, so I excitedly headed off to the maternity clothing store. I was excited until I looked at the price tag! I just could not justify spending $35 to $50 for shirts and sweaters I would only wear for a few months.
I learned a few tricks to get buy on a cheaper maternity wardrobe and still look professional at work.
–I bought three pairs of basic maternity pants at Target—two in black and one in gray. Those maternity pants survived all three of my pregnancies and post-partum periods. Best of all, I bought each of them for $19.95.
–I looked into eBay and found that there are literally hundreds of maternity clothes up for auction. Many have been worn only a handful of times. (Read the descriptions carefully though. Some women put the clothes up for auction after they have worn them through multiple pregnancies. Those clothes are often not such good finds.)
–I went to the maternity store first and tried on different style tops to see which ones looked best on my pregnant figure and which size I needed. Only after I did that did I bid on clothing on eBay. I bought several nice work tops and a pair of maternity jeans this way.
–I bought on clearance at the maternity stores for subsequent pregnancies. My son was born in the early summer, but my daughter was not born until late October, so few of my pregnancy clothes for my son worked for my daughter in late pregnancy. I solved this problem by buying summer clothes at the maternity store on clearance; as the stores made way for their fall inventory, I could snatch up summer shirts that lasted me through the rest of the pregnancy and also worked for me when I was pregnant with my third child.
It is exciting to be pregnant, but don’t spend a fortune on your wardrobe; you will only be wearing those clothes for a season or two in each pregnancy. Follow these tips, and you will save a significant amount of money and still be stylishly dressed.
I shared this post at Works For Me Wednesdays and Frugal Fridays.
I went to target also and go some really nice $20 corduroys and I started shopping in the plus size section. I would get knit tops that were a small in plus size and they worked perfectly. Plus half the price of a “maternity” item.
Misty–thanks for including that great tip. I actually did that a few times myself.
I am very, very small, and was having trouble finding any maternity clothes that fit this time ’round. (Companies have rescaled their sizing since my previous, opposite-season pregnancies.) I found, though, that there are lots of empire-waisted and similar tops, and low-slung pants that work well even though they aren’t maternity. I even found a pair of knit dress pants – $15 at Wal-Mart – that has a wide, super-stretchy waistband almost exactly like a maternity waistband.
So thinking outside the box can help, too. 🙂
I think those are wonderfrul tips! I also found if you shop Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshalls you can find some good deals. With this baby, i bought 3 shirts, each one for $5.00 or less!!!!
Hi! I’m your newest follower from the Wednesday link up. Lovely blog:) You can find me at http://www.bouffeebambini.blogspot.com
Glad to have found your blog – I would definitely like to learn how to live fulfilled on less.