So you think cloth diapering is expensive…

This diaper was folded (not sewn) out of a pair of new boxer shorts!

Sure, it can be.  Especially when you run across diapers that are on auction for $200+!

I’ve posted about cloth diapering on a budget before, and I thought we’d go over some money saving tips again!

Day 3 (April 18th): Real Simple Real Diapers Savings – Cost savings, diapering on a budget, cloth diaper banks or support organizations

If you haven’t read my article about Cloth Diapering on the Cheap, you might want to take a minute to see how you can grab an entire stash for $45!  It tells you how to save the money as well as where to buy great diapers for great prices!

Here are some more tips for buying diapers on a budget.

1. Do your research.

While searching out cheap diapers for a local group and gathering goods for The Great Cloth Diaper Change, I ran across a site that has diapers for not only a great price, but the customer service is awesome!

Green Bees Diapers has pocket diapers for as little as $6!  Her shipping is extremely cheap, and she’s got lots of colors!

Last week, I scored 5 covers for $18 postage paid!  How’s that for cheap?

2. Check Amazon for sales.

This diaper was bought locally $7. No Shipping.

The major thing that I love about Amazon is the fact that most of the time, if you have an order of $25 or more (or a Prime or Amazon Mom account) your shipping is FREE!  If you don’t have an Amazon Mom account, sign up for it now.  It’s FREE, and you get 2 day free shipping on most items!

So, from my research so far, here’s what I snagged for a little over the cost of a 2-3 week supply of disposable diapers.

OsoCosy Bleached Prefolds – 2 packs of 12 – $36 (free shipping)
Green Bees Diapers – 5 One Size covers – $15 ($3 shipping)
Total Cost for an Entire Diaper Stash –  $51

Really, though, if you can only find one or two covers for the same price, that’s all you need!

3.  Join a local Cloth Diapering Group

The best thing that I ever did, before moving to the Houston area, was to start a local cloth diapering group to meet like minded families.  This way, once I moved (about a month after the group was formed), I already had “friends” down here!  That group started in July of 2005 and in April of 2008 evolved into a citywide group.  Now, we’ve moved to Facebook, and we’ve grown leaps and bounds.  By having a local group, members can help you find the cheapest cloth diapers, and you can even have your very own local For Sale or Trade Board! (If you’re in Houston, Texas, join our local group – Houston Cloth Diapers!)

4. Shop Local Cloth Diaper or Consignment Stores

Every time we turn around, we run across local stores that sell cloth diapers.  Whether they are new or pre-loved, there is a great advantage for buying locally.  The first thing is you don’t have to pay shipping!  With talks of raising shipping and mailing prices these days, you can save anywhere from $3-$8 per diaper!  Also, with buying locally, you can put your hands on the diaper so you can see and feel the quality before purchasing!

5. Experiment with Fabrics Already Around Your House

There are so many different resources laying around your house to fashion a cloth diaper.  Be creative, and find something that works for you!  You don’t have to have modern cloth diapers to have functional ones!

Hopefully, some of these tips will help you get started and save money on cloth diapers!  You don’t have to have a lot of money to use cloth diapers!  Frugal cloth diapering can be an extremely fun challenge if you get creative with it!