42% Cash Back on Used Diapers...

You can't get that with disposables.

So I have 2 kids, 16 months apart. Needless to say, since my daughter joined our family 14 months ago, I have been changing a TON of diapers.

While you will see me post the occasional deal on disposable diapers, we are a cloth diapering family. We started using cloth when my son was 4 weeks old- so we've been at it for about 2.5 years.

Truthfully, this is one thing we did NOT do to save money. We did it to reduce our environmental impact. Let's be honest- our kids are the ones who will be forced to deal with the consequences of our crappy environmental choices, so we figured they could start doing their part right now- as babies.

So like I said, this was not an economical decision (in the beginning). The cloth diapers were not cheap up front. We paid $18 each, and at our highest, had around 30 or more.

However, over time, these diapers paid for themselves, and are now paying us back.

I'll use the set of 12 Fuzzi Bunz I bought a little over 2 years ago. My son wore them from age 4 months-2.5 years. My daughter started sharing them with him when she was 3 months old. I did some crazy number crunching, and estimate that this little set of 12 Fuzzi Bunz diapers, which cost me a crazy $216 to buy brand new, saved us between 6,000-7,000 disposable diapers. But I like the number 6,000... it's easy and round and happy.

So you know me, I like a deal. I buy disposables sometimes (no way on heck I'm sending all of these cloth diapers back and forth to sleepovers at Grandma's). With some serious sales, stocking up, and coupon matching, I can get good quality diapers for around .15 each... ballpark (seriously- don't hold me to my math. It's 6 am.).

So 6,000 x .15= $900.

Hm. Dang. Even with my most frugal frugality, expensive cloth diapers are looking much better than good disposables bought cheaply.

But here's the kicker- that set of 12 Fuzzi Bunz? The ones that have been lovingly washed, dried, and stuffed for over 2 years? I just sold them yesterday.

You read that right. I SOLD USED DIAPERS- their is a HUGE market for this. I know- I was a little shocked, then grossed out, then gradually moved into acceptance. So those used Fuzzi Bunz? Someone bought them for $90 yesterday. I made 42% of my initial investment back.

So $126 out of pocket beats $900, huh?

Oh, and it's much bigger than this... my kids used more diapers, and would have used more disposables- this was just a snap shot.

Oh- and I use cloth wipes, too. Cha ching.

Cloth diapers are not for everyone. But let me just say- they MIGHT be for you. In the beginning, the idea repulsed me... but I got over it quick... and I am SO GLAD this is the route we went.

Any questions?