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Family Finance

Parenting is expensive, chaotic, and filled with way too much stuff. From prams to playpens, kids outgrow gear at lightning speed, leaving you with empty pockets and a cluttered home. If you’re looking for a thrifty way to save money, space, and sanity, renting kids’ gear might just be the next big thing.

Lifestyle

The Chaos We Signed Up For

Before kids, I pictured modern parenting as a heartwarming montage — family dinners, bedtime stories, and weekend outings filled with giggles. What I got instead was a minefield of scattered Hot Wheels cars, a cat with PTSD, and a deep understanding that true horror is a toddler looking at the floor saying “What’s that? Oh! It’s poop!”

The chaos is unrelenting. It is a challenge. It is a daily battle. But it’s not malicious — it’s just a learning experience, for them and us, and it’s beautiful in its own, very unique, way.

Here’s how I try to convince myself of that.

Food

As modern parents, we’ve got enough on our plates (pun intended) without spending ages assembling lunchboxes like we’re auditioning for MasterChef. 

Between school runs, work, and dodging toy clutter landmines, who’s got time for elaborate bento boxes? Not us. Desire - yes (sometimes), time - NO! So, let’s work smart not hard, and talk hacks - the kind that slash your lunchbox prep time while still keeping the little humans fed and happy.

Home Life

If your kids’ room looks like it’s permanently hosting Adelaide Fringe, you’re not alone. Between all the preloved toys, hand-me-downs, and that random minefield of mismatched bricks (ouch!), it’s no wonder it feels like a mini battlefield in there. 

Sustainability

Let’s be real: as parents, our homes are often overflowing with second-hand puzzles, outgrown outfits, random baby books…

…and that eco-conscious parenting guilt for not using them all.

So, while we talk about toy swapping a lot (for a good reason - it’s kind of our thing), it’s time to expand our horizons. Turns out, nearly everything in a family’s world can be part of the swap revolution, unless it’s literal rubbish. For that, you have a bin - there are enough rotting outdoor settings on the Marketplace already, thanks.

Sustainability

Parenting is already a wild ride, and then throw in the weight of wanting to be a conscious parent, and you’re absolutely toast.

Suddenly, deciding between secondhand clothes or brand-new Australian organic cotton feels like a life-or-death dilemma. Ouch. Breathe.

Parenting

It’s official: hand-me-downs are cool now. From a local op shop to posh online marketplaces where celebs and influencers offload the surplus kids’ stuff, preloved kids fashion is on the rise.

Parenting

Exploring a toy library in Adelaide is like unlocking a treasure trove of fun, learning, and eco-friendly parenting solutions. 

They’re the ultimate parenting hack and community hub, by letting families borrow toys rather than purchase them. Just imagine endless options for keeping kids entertained without constantly adding to your home’s clutter. From puzzles to imaginative playsets and beyond, toy libraries have something to suit every age and interest.

Sustainability

Parenting is no small feat – it’s messy, expensive, and, let’s face it, chaotic at times...no, most of the time.

But what if you could lighten the load for at least your wallet, and also help the planet? Enter: preloved stuff. From second-hand toys to thrifted baby gear, preloved finds are the ultimate parenting hack for eco-conscious families!

Sustainability

Perth parents, feeling stuck in the endless toy buying cycle? 

Enter toy libraries! They are a brilliant lifehack for families to access a wide variety of toys without breaking the bank. 

By borrowing toys, you can rotate playthings, reduce waste, and give your precious kiddos access to new and exciting stuff all at the same time! Whether your little one loves puzzles, ride-on cars, or building blocks, there’s something for every child at a toy library.

Sustainability

Did you know that if everyone bought just one used item instead of new this year, we would save 5.7B of CO2 emissions? That’s equal to half a million cars being taken off the road for an entire year. But circulating toys and clothing is no new feat - it’s a pillar of the circular economy, an economic system based on the reuse and regeneration of materials. Designed to minimise waste and move away from our enormously wasteful norms, the circular economy helps us rethink consumerism as a society while benefiting the environment. 

Toys

All parents know that toys can enrich play, helping children develop their imagination while supporting their cognitive skills. But with nearly 80% of all new toys ending up in landfills, and skyrocketing living costs, more and more parents are opting for preloved toys and clothes for their children. But is it okay to buy secondhand toys and are there things we should be mindful of safety-wise? Here’s what you need to know.