I have decided I'm just not a fitness center kinda person. While I'd like to work out at a gym, I honestly can't imagine leaving an infant or toddler in their daycare. I also don't like paying a membership to exercise. So, that leaves jogging and walking and home exercise. Because of this, one thing I really, really want is a good double jogging stroller. I've used our single jogger more than any other stroller. It was a cheap In-Step jogger I got off Craigslist. I didn't absolutely love the stroller itself, but it has worked well enough for $60.
During my stroller research, I have found there are only a handful of double joggers that can accept a car seat on one side. These strollers are not cheap. They run between $500-700 new. I've decided I REALLY want a Bob Revolution Duallie, but it's one of the most expensive with the accessories I want. I've found one here in town on Craigslist for $350. I was going to look at it tomorrow, but I realised that I would have to buy the car seat adapter if I want to use it before the baby is 6 months. That is an additional $90!! Now it's up to $440 and I feel like that's past the point of reasonable and entered the realm of excess.
There isn't a whole lot I need to get for this second baby since we already have a lot of boy stuff from Dean, so a part of me thinks, "What the heck. You don't have to buy all that other stuff. Just get it." But then I think about the crappy economy and what a necessity really is. We've been lucky to avoid job and financial problems thus far, but you never know what will come down the road. It's better to save and be prepared than "live it up" and be caught unaware. I keep trying to tell myself that.
I guess I don't really have a reason for posting this except to voice how frustrating it is to find something I want and would use that goes against my financial conscience.
10 comments:
I understand! Those things can be expensive! I got a double jogging stroller after Emelyn was born and I love it. It's a chunk of money--but it is worth it to be able to comfortably get exercise and I figure I'll use it for years. We use it almost everyday. But, we didn't get too fancy of one. It didn't have the car seat thing. I had Emelyn in it when she was just a couple of months old. It has a good adjustable 5-point harness belt and then I'd just put a blanket in for support or something. But, then again--I usually just walk and don't really run so that's probably a big difference. We got ours brand new for around $230. So, even if you don't get your "dream" stroller--I'm sure there are still some out there that you'd love. Good luck shopping!
I think you should just count on your next baby being freakishly strong and be able to sit in a regular stroller at about 6 weeks, which might be when you're ready to go walking. No?
How large is your cargo basket on your current stroller?
I'm teasing. I haven't had to shop for a new stroller because I'm inheriting one but I know how frustrating it is trying to get a good deal and make a decision on stuff you don't really know if you'll like until you use it. I have been looking for slings and a new carrier and find it incredibly tedious and will probably end up buying something random out of frustration.
I've totally had the same problem with carriers. I had a bjorn with Dean, and that was handy after he was about 3 months and could face out. I wanted something I could use with a newborn and I'm having a hard time deciding what. I think I'm going to try and make my own moby wrap. It might be a little too hot here for all that fabric, and he might be a spitter upper like Dean, so I don't want to spend $60 on it if doesn't work for us!
I don't know a thing about jogging strollers, but as far as carriers go, I really like our Ergo. I just bought an infant insert so I can use it with Number Two while he's still tiny. The thing that's nice about the Ergo is that the weight of the baby is supported on your hips, as opposed to your shoulders and back (like the Bjorn and Snugli). It's nice and comfy and holds the baby pretty snug against you.
Are there any local baby stores near you or places where you could go try out different styles of carriers before purchasing one? There are a ton of little shops here that offer try-before-you-buy services, as well as classes to teach you how to use the ones you have, but I'm not sure if that's b/c it's a big city or b/c carrying your baby is the trendy thing to do these days. At any rate, it might be worth looking into. Also, perhaps there are consignment stores in your area where you could get stuff like this cheaper?
hmmm. a couple things. 1. I get it. After several years of student life, I totally get it. Finances (especially saving and preparation) are huge. How finances are managed, i guess I should say. You aren't a person who buys what you don't need. You use what you do buy. You're smart, you're informed, you make great decisions. Sometimes it feels like you're going against your own value system (or frugality), but you're really just doing everyone a favor. You don't go to a gym, so you don't spend money on that. You didn't buy an expensive single stroller, so you're not losing money on "not using the single one" anymore. Although we "work hard" (haha) to get things for free (freecycle and craigslist) or very reduced (craigslist), there ARE times when it's WORTH it to invest in something good and HIGH quality. You'd be doing yourself a favor by investing in a good stroller. I love my stroller. There are things I'd like that I don't have on mine, but it's a great stroller for me. I could have purchased something less expensive with fewer options, but since I'm the one taking the kids everywhere, let me tell you, "I'M GLAD I SPENT THE MONEY!" I don't regret it AT ALL!!
And 2. You're doing the economy a favor by purchasing the stroller. That's the reason things are so bad, everyone stopped buying a lot of stuff. When everyone buys, everyone makes money and they buy, etc. You already know all this stuff. . . and if the economy really does flop in your direction (lose job), well. . . as least your kids will have a nice ride and you'll be pushing them in style! haha ;)
V-
What kind of stroller do you have?
mmmm. the wrap. I'm totally convinced the moby is the best in the world. It does get hot, but surprisingly it's not too bad. I had mine with Ivy in FLORIDA! And I LOVED having it. I wouldn't have traded it for anything ESPECIALLY since there are SO many way to carry them in it. Well, SO many. . . really, how many ways can you carry a baby. But still, She laid in there, I could NURSE and walk around like nothing was going on and since there was so much fabric no one could tell, hahaha! Seriously, mobys rock!;)
I have a double jogger, safari TT instep. Like I said, there are things I wish i had and I wish it were narrower, but I can't be too choosy for the price. It was $230 new. It's nice that it has a double compartment on the bottom, but it's shallow, so you wouldn't be able to store a million things there. I love that it has a swivel/lock front wheel, but it seems to be more common now when it wasn't 4 years ago. It's wide and has a hard time fitting through some doors around here, but I'm in Boston, things are on the skinny scale here. I'm sure you've already looked at this one, and you can google anything else about it, but if you have more questions let me know. I did wish it had an infant carrier, I like that "your" has that option.. .:)
I've been waffling back and forth and I just checked the listing again and it's gone. So I'm kicking myself a bit. Oi.
ok, one way to justify a big expense is to save your piano lesson money for it if it isn't a complete financial necessity for you to contribute that money to the family budget.
Post a Comment