Snow! Gah! Think spring-think about bikes for the kids! (or other larger items)

I can’t believe we actually have snow & ice here today in southeastern PA. I am sooooo sick of it.

A few weeks ago, I posted a deal I found on a new bike for Brian. He just turned two a few weeks ago and we got him a brand new bike. Guess how much it cost? It was free! Yessirrreeee, it was. It’s this one:

I purchased it with Pampers points and it was shipped right to my door. The irony being that for most of the Pampers, I didn’t pay for them either!

But, spring is here and there probably isn’t enough time to accumulate enough points for a free bike this year. Still there are other affordable options.

Toys R Us: Through this weekend, Toys R Us is having a bike trade in. Through Saturday, March 26, but you can take in a bike to trade in toward a new one. Save $20 on any bike priced $99.99 or below; save $30 on a bike from $99.99-$149.99; or save $50 on a bike $150 or more. Trade in a helmet to receive 25% off a new helmet, too. Details here. I wish I had heard about this before we bought the helmet, I would have traded in mine since I sold my own bike.

Goodwill: Sure, there can be some less than desirable merchandise there, but sometimes there are some great finds at Goodwill. It certainly doesn’t hurt to look. I recently went to the one on Concord Pike in Wilmington and found brand new, unopened packs of Pampers/Splashers swim diapers, for $3!

Freecycle: This is a great site where people list things they are giving away. You have to join a group to see what’s listed there, but there are over 8 million Freecyclers across the nation. They would rather give something away than throw it away. And if nothing else, you’re sure to be entertained as there are some odd posts on Freecycle. If you really were in a wheeling & dealing kind of mood, get a free bike from someone on Freecycle and trade it in at Toys R Us.

Craigslist: I have a love/hate relationship with craigslist. I found a great toddler bed on there at a great price as well as our double stroller. I also did well with selling our old stroller. But you have to weed through a ton of nonsense to get there. People don’t answer emails, they back out at the last minute, don’t show up…..sometimes saving money is hard work! 

Ask around! If you have an older child-ask their friends, cousins, nieces, nephews or someone else who is otherwise active with older school children…ask! “Hey, by any chance do you any bikes that you don’t want anymore?” That’s exactly how I got rid of our high chair and pack & play–someone just asked me if I knew anyone selling them. I said, “Sure, Me!” and the deal was done.

Except for the bike deal at Toys R Us, any of these options would be good for any larger outdoor toy, like the infamous cozy coupe, kid sized picnic tables, scooters and more.