Baby Furniture

Brett · Post by **Brett** » Sat May 03, 2003 5:57 pm

Okay, I just spent $2500.00 on a crib, change table, stroller and a rocking chair. Baby stuff is FUCKING expensive. We still have to buy a car seat, linen, clothes, toys, playpen, and a massive amount of other shit. The guys are here right now laying down new carpet in the baby's room (Another $600) and the kid doesn't even know what designer clothes are yet. This whole having a baby thing is kind of tripping me out now. Just going through the costs in my head is scary. On top of all this those assholes at the lottery office won't draw my numbers. I was kinda counting on that money.

Oh yeah, on top of all this baby stuff my wife wants a new car. A Nissan Extera or a Pathfinder. I think I'm going to cry.

Post by **mccutcheon** » Sat May 03, 2003 6:12 pm

Brett, my good friend tony the tiger just had his second kid. when you come down I'll introduce you. you guys can cry in your beer together.

Myke115 · Post by **Myke115** » Sun May 04, 2003 12:21 am

Sounds like you and your wife are going to make great parents, Brett. Wow ... an Extera or Pathfinder would set you back a penney or five. Both are good SUVs. The Pathfinder is a little more urban and would be better if you didn't hardly ever go off-road. The Extera is rougher and more rugged in general. It'd be what to go with if you're a regular hiker/camper but want a good road for onroad driving as well.

myke

h. · Post by h. » Sun May 04, 2003 7:44 am

Brett- just remember when you are buying all this stuff that babies grow fast. Double their birth weight in the first month, in fact. My suggestion (were you to need it) is to stick to mid-priced things because you'll have that day ( I know you will) when you reach into a drawer, pull out a brand new onesie and a cute little outfit that someone laid out the cash for... and it's going to be way too small. Consignment shops are great for that though. At least you can trade the stuff you didn't use for stuff you will use in the future. It's been a long time since I had a baby in the house...
Mc's right, you should spend some time with Tony the tiger. I bet he'd have lots of good advice to give.
Good luck! When is your wife due?

marky · Post by **marky** » Sun May 04, 2003 9:16 am

Well, you have my heartfelt congratulations and financial sympathies, Brett, but I think SUV's should be outlawed. They hasten climate change and pollute the air much more than their fair share, reduce visibility for other drivers, feel safe but tend to roll over in crashes, cost a lot to fill up with gas, and therefore, basically rely on gas prices remaining stable. Plus in my opinion many of them just look bloated and ugly. Perhaps you could persuade your wife to give up the SUV and leave some air and earth left for your child and grandchild's lives?

Just a suggestion.

martino · Post by **martino** » Tue May 06, 2003 6:07 am

don't fall into the middle-class consumption trap. having a child doesn't mean you have to buy and store a ton of crap. you can get used stuff for children super cheap.

if your wife complains, make a firm committment to spend the money saved on useful, meaningful things that linger in the form of common experiences but don't clutter the home. good books, outings, one or two very special toys that your child really wants, even money for a really good baby sitter so that you and your wife can go out and have some fun every now and then.

nobody cares or remembers an expensive stroller after a few years; least of all your baby. you don't need to buy things to impress the neighbors or your family. and above all, don't fuck up with a suv (right on once again, mark) -- they are ugly, unsafe, costly, stupid, and tell people you just don't care.

<rosie> · Post by **<rosie>** » Tue May 06, 2003 5:05 pm

did you hear w. bush was going to pass a something says that business owners could write off a suv?

marky · Post by **marky** » Tue May 06, 2003 11:00 pm

If someone tried to give me a Jaguar, presuming it's in decent condition, I would have zoomed away so fast...

marky · Post by **marky** » Tue May 06, 2003 11:03 pm

BTW, Mmenabi, are you going to "Revolver" at Chop Suey tomorrow night?

martino · Post by **martino** » Tue May 06, 2003 11:41 pm

ok mnenabi, we now know that your papa is a toff.

now tell me: does he have any redeeming qualities?

Myke115 · Post by **Myke115** » Wed May 07, 2003 2:45 am

Brett, is it your first child? I can understand others' thoughts on getting used stuff for your kid ... especially as they grow out of everything, furniture included ... so quickly. However, sometimes it's hard to fight the desire to provide a child with as much as you can and the best you can.

My only thought for myself is that if I ever have grandkids ... I'd love to see show them pictures of all the places I've been, etc. than all of the cars I've driven around South Carolina.

I'm on the fence on the SUV battle. I personally don't drive one. I actually traded one for a smaller car with much, much, much better mileage. And it is scary how bad a big SUV would damage me in a wreck. It's especially frightening seeing a soccer mom on her cell phone rolling along in a Suburban oblivious to everything around her. But ... it's kinda always been that way. If it wasn't the SUVs ... it would be big giant station wagons!

myke

mmenabi · Post by **mmenabi** » Wed May 07, 2003 7:48 am

yeah, suvs are kinda dumb. but my dad just bought a land rover, siting his "new" hobby of skiing as his excuse. i was against it, but i do have to admit that it is a smooth ride. but unnecessary. now he's trying to get rid of his old car, which is a jaguar. he told me my car is dangerous and that i should take the jaguar instead. i drive a volvo. and i don't really even want it. and a jaguar would get keyed by capitol hipsters out of spite.

Brett · Post by **Brett** » Thu May 08, 2003 4:40 pm

Wow. Now you all should tell my how you really feel. That's what I love about this board, all the ideas and answers you get to the questions life chucks at you. I understand the hatred of the SUV, but I drive a Jeep now and need a car that has 4 wheel drive and can go off road. That's also the reason the stroller is so expensive, it has inflatable tires and can be used on trails. What the hell is a toff? Myke, the kid will be my first and my wife and I have pictures from the 30 or so countries that we've visitied together. Our big plan is to start backpacking with the kid through Central America, Europe and Asia once he/she gets to be around 12 years old. That and I'm gonna make the kid go to Antartica with me.
Had to go to Calgary for work for a couple of days. A group of us are buying a Brokerage firm so I flew out there to meet some of the staff. It was snowing. Not just light flurries, but snowing. Hard. I have no idea how anyone lives in the prairie provinces, it would drive me insane. I have to go and buy baseboards now, have a nice day.

p.s. I did but the new Tom Robbins book while I was out there, also read a book called Paperback Original by Will Rhode, a Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle and Happiness by Will Ferguson. I highly recommend all of these. Great reads.

mmenabi · Post by **mmenabi** » Fri May 09, 2003 11:12 pm

i'd only ruin a fancy car. better to just sell it to some fool who will value it. and no, mark, i didn't go to revolver. i was going to but backed out at the last minute due to extreme laziness.