Costs of Cleaning
Speaking of clean — sending cloth out to a diaper service will cost you about the same as disposables in end. This means if you want to SAVE money – that’s right – you need wash them yourself! Most women say that it is actually only a couple more loads of laundry a week than you would typically do. So, even with the additional energy expense (estimated to be around a couple hundred dollars per year) the overall annual costs are substantially lower than using all disposable.
Time Is Money
Of course time is money too and the convenience of disposable diapers is not comparable to having to wash cloth ones-especially if you are a sanitizing fanatic like me! I was overwhelmed with the amount of info out there on how to properly clean cloth diapers! Some moms swear it is no big deal – others have elaborate plans for washing, sanitizing, rinsing, drying. If you are considering this option, you MUST do further research to discover your own comfort zone…
The Bottom Line
So what are the real costs of having a baby & toddler in diapers anyway? The average family will spend about $1600 on disposables to diaper one child for about 2 years!
As mentioned before, the upfront range for purchasing cloth diapers is anywhere from $300 on low end to $1000 on high end. That’s a savings of up to 50%! These numbers are just for the diapers. (If you wash them yourself, your expenses won’t be much higher, but using a diaper service, generally costs as much as disposables in the end.)
Frugal Moms
Personally speaking, as a frugal mom, if I were to do it over, I think I would have still chosen to use disposable diapers. Time is money, and most moms are short on both. As much as I love to save money and do my part to help save the environment, my on the go lifestyle makes cloth diapering a little tricky. Carrying around dirty diapers for hours, is not the most appealing option. And as a working mom, I still find the thought of the extra time to sanitize the cloth diapers a bit intimidating.
On an alternative note to regular disposables, environmentally friendly disposable diapers have become more affordable!
Below is a list a starter list of resources so you can begin to weigh your choices and your budget! Your decision to use cloth, disposable, or a combination of the two, is personal. Getting informed is the first step!
Please share with us your thoughts, concerns & RESOURCES!
Resources for Cloth & Eco-Friendly Disposables
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I’m definitely an advocate of cloth diapers, as well as EBay
I’m not a mom yet, but my mom used cloth diapers on me, and a lot of my “green” mommy friends are doing the same!
Denise
http://frugalluxe.blogspot.com
The much better option for buying used cloth diapers is http://www.diaperswappers.com
(Last I checked, ebay didn’t allow you to sell used diapers because of health code issues)
I used disposables for my first 2 children and discovered cloth with my third. Now I just WISH I had known about them 6 years ago! No more running out to the store to buy diapers, no more clipping coupons or checking where Huggies are on sale this week!
The only downside I have found is that my “Baby Bucks” don’t add up very fast at the grocery store anymore!
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Hello, what an excellent knowledge in your web page here The Dollar & Scents of Diapering | Fabulous & Frugal: A Girl's Guide To Living Well & Spending Wisely Regards, Margareta Couvillion
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