Research suggests that parents now spend in the region of GBP50,000 on their children in the first five years of their lives, GBP7,000 of it in the first 12 months alone! When Wiz Wharton found out she was pregnant in 2005, she was living in rented accommodation in London with no regular income. Determined to provide her baby with everything he might need but knowing she'd have to do it at a fraction of the normal cost, she found her solution on eBay, the world's largest online auction site. With the sort of military precision only reserved for the truly obsessed or the truly pregnant, Wiz compiled a file of everything she was going to need, from maternity wear, to nursery equipment, via sterilisers, nappies and toys. What she discovered was that with a little bit of research, some streetwise bidding tactics and patience you can pick up all you need in next-to-new condition for far, far less than normal retail prices; "I eventually managed to buy all of my son's items from 0 to way beyond 3, including all my maternity items, for about GBP500", she writes. Some of Wiz's online triumphs have included: a GBP200 cot for GBP11.5 0; a GBP400 designer buggy for GBP200; a GBP175 one-off maternity dress for GBP15; and all brand new, boxed and delivered. In this unique book, Wiz tells other mums-to-be and their partners how to save themselves literally thousands of pounds by doing what she did, and have fun in the process. The first part of the book reproduces and builds upon her own detailed product research, telling parents what equipment they are going to need and - just as importantly - what they won't. The eighteen Buyer's Guides are the most comprehensive and up-to-date research of their kind, and invaluable for parents lost in the confusion of what to buy, when and for how much. The second part of the book offers a detailed explanation of how eBay works, with step-by-step instructions for readers new to the site, plus advanced tips and tricks for those who already have some experience. With humour and insight, Wiz reveals the mistakes she made, and shows how her techniques improved to the point where she could be confident of winning items that had previously eluded her. Basic errors are highlighted, myths exposed, and 'golden rules' stressed. There is even a section on how to avoid the much-publicised eBay scams. The final section of the book instructs parents in the 'selling' side of eBay. Wiz tells you how to turn the products that you have bought back into hard cash by listing them either in an eBay auction or in a Buy It Now sale. Threaded through the narrative is her desire not only to help other parents achieve what she did, but also to encourage the principles of recycling. Whether you are a mother-to-be, a father, or just know someone about to have a baby, "How to Have a Baby on eBay" is an invaluable, money-saving, planet-friendly guide.
