Hi Ladies, as a mum of twins it's always good to be able to save money and time and thought I would share a couple that I have come across lately. It would be great to see if anyone else can add to this as well.

1. Formula - if you use Karicare Nutricia have a multiples service where you can buy in bulk at a discounted rate and the product is delivered to your door. Eg I use the standard infant starter and the cheapest I saw it retail for was $16, I get this from Nutricia for $12.70. You have to call and set up an account and provide a letter from your health care professional confirming you have twins / trips first. I called the number on their tin.

2. Nappies - I've found the http://www.thebulkwarehouse.com.au/ to have the cheapest bulk huggies nappies and other items.

Hope that helps, Emma

Great tips!

Babies Galore offer a 10% discount for multiples. The first couple of times I took advantage of this, the fact I was buying 2 cots or had 2 newborns was proof enough. But the last few times Ive had to show my membership card, 2 kids the same age wasnt enough

I dont know if this is available on sale or discounted items, but hopefully this can save someone just a little bit of money.

BIG W has pretty competitive formula prices - $20 for a tin of Karicare Gold and Toys R Us has a standard $35 price for a box of huggies.

Also we use snuggler nappies during the day (half the price of Huggies) and we have had no probs with leaking or nappy rash. We then use huggies at night as the twins need more absorbancy then.

Hello,

The main thing I can think of is to remember that you really don't need everything to be brand new. Especially for things like cots (a new mattress maybe ), change table and other things that people often offer to lend you.

They are expensive items to buy new and the baby will never know that you didn't buy a brand new one for him/her. They don't get soiled (or at least they get cleaned easily) and don't suffer from wear-and-tear like other items.

It really does all add up. People are so generous, offering all sorts of things when you have twins - MAKE THE MOST OF IT! If they didn't really want you to have it, they won't mention it again!!

Same with clothes - if friends offer me clothes that don't fit their kids anymore I always take them - not everything has to be brand new. And then, when I catch up with them I dress the kids in something they gave us (I have a good memory for such nonsense!) The friends always get a kick out of seeing their loved outfits again and I feel good making them happy.

Why does each family have to buy all the same stuff over and over again???

HTH.

I agree with babaganoush! Don't buy everything new. Check out ebay too - but my biggest money saver is teaming up with other families you know to pass down toys and clothes. With all of us having young children and probably going back for more children, we agree to keep the hand-me-downs moving around us all. Once we're done, we pass it on and then soon after we get a new supply. My two have a big canvas bag full of clothes each sized 1 and 2 already. Also, we help out those with older children so they don't buy it all - we know we'll get them eventually.

Let me see, for us it's;

- Big W for formula - $10.98 (Heinz).
- Only use bought wipes sparingly - we make our own using flanelette squares (you fold and put them in a huggies wipes box - mix together about a cup of boiling water with bit of baby wash and drop or 2 of baby oil, then add it to the wipes to soak in)
- Vinnies - for clothes. We mostly get Bonds suits from there ($1 each!). They grow out of them so quickly most of the ones you can get are hardly used.
- Washing powder/Toilet paper - buy in bulk.
- Everyday cleaner (for wiping benches etc) - I make my own out of vinegar/water/drop of lavendar oil). This way if you have a toddler they can help you clean!
- Furniture - borrow from other people if they offer.
- Nappies - we buy Aldis which work out quite cheap. We tried buying bulk - but unfortunately for us the delivery fee for the ACT worked out to be about $20. Some states it is free though.

Can't think of anything else. Good idea to start a thread like this.