Confession

I'm terrible at being thrifty.

I used to have quite the gift for it.  I could live on $100 a week in NYC, not counting rent, but counting everything else.

I have no idea where that skill has flown, but it is gone.

I still exercise restraint.  But not really.  And not really well.  I mean, if something is out of my league, price-wise, I just don't let myself look at it.

But if something is an extravagance that I feel worthy of....I think on it for a month or so.  Then I splurge.

Here's my latest thinking project:

My second child is due in July.  My first child will be almost three.  That's a good year, at least, of still strolling child number one.  Now, if you don't live in New York, you may not know just how important a stroller is to the urbanite.  It is akin to one's car.   You take it everywhere.  You haul groceries.  Sorry, kid, get out and walk.  Mama just bought three cartons of milk and a bottle of juice. You walk miles in it.  Miles. You cross the park and you shuttle to the playground.  You lug it up and down stairs and on and off public transportation.

So... it is an investment, no?

I first thought I would not be needing a double stroller.  I thought I would just get a "buggy board,"  which is a platform that hangs off the back of one's stroller, upon which the toddler may stand and get a ride.  OR, I could just wear the baby in a sling, while pushing the toddler in the stroller.  Right?  Then I remembered just how long I was able to use a sling before my back gave out.  That was two years ago, too.

Plus, many folks in New York have gone crazy buying $1000+ strollers, such as the Bugaboo Frog.  It is a fine stroller, that should cost at least $500 less than it does.  But it just costs that much because it can.  And it sells.  So a bunch of other stroller makers have upped their prices and gone for the willing-to-pay-a-grand-for-something-that-should-cost-$400 crowd.

So that makes wanting a $400 stroller seem downright modest, I'd say.

                                                   So this is what I want. It weighs 24 lbs.  That's a lot for a single stroller, but quite light for two single strollers!  It is like a double-decker bus, so it isn't too wide in the store aisles.  And this is the best part... it has a huge basket.  So I could buy groceries and still stroll the children.  Yes, a friend bought and loves this thrifty almost-basketless alternative for $100.  But I'm sure it doesn't have the sweet ride of my first choice.  What do you guys think?

Comments

[woolypear]

i have one and still use it. it's the BEST.

[woolypear]

ps. since you don't normally have a shower for baby #2, my in-laws all chipped in for our phil & ted.

[Kris]

I didn't get one because my big guy was nearly 40 pounds when I looked at it and I think there was some kind of weight issue. Like I thought it wouldn't be okay for too much longer. It seems like it was made for kids who are farther apart than mine...

[oneofhismoms]

Hmm... It is supposed to support up to 88lbs, so that seems like it would last until the second one is out of a stroller. They won't both weigh 40 lbs at the same time unless they are twins, no?