Baby Shower question

Whatever the hell a "diaper raffle" is . . . . ? I wouldn't get involved. Don't need diapers lol

My budget would be my budget. Want books instead of cards? (quit telling me what to do! You're not the boss of me! ) It's in the budget.

My budget is usually pretty flexible though. I always have wrap laying around the house, or a baby blanket to wrap gifts in. I almost always have extra baby books around, pick them up at Marshall's for ultra cheap.

I’m not a fan of being told what to bring, especially when it appears to be extra. If they have a registry, I’ll use my budget on that.

I stick to my budget. I include everything in that budget, so if they want a book instead of a card then that money comes out of their larger gift total.

I don't ever buy diapers and I don't ever buy bottle/nipples.  My DD was a very skinny legged baby.  The only diapers that would fit her were Huggies Supremes. Everything else would leak.  Both of my children were breastfed and I was a SAHM.  I had no reason to introduce a bottle until I had a health problem requiring weening.  I found that both of my children were picky about what kind of nipple they preferred.  I had the entire Avent system and I ended up donating the entire thing.  It ended up being worthless.

I plan as part of my budget to include two books.  I give a book that my DD loved and a book that my DS loved.  

I think you should give/not give whatever you feel comfortable with. 

I would get a $10 book, write in it (consider it a card) and then either a gift card to tuck inside for the remainder of my budget or buy a gift from the registry and add the book on top.

As a somewhat recent new mom, diapers were sooooooo needed! If they registered for diapers, go with a book and box of diapers. IMO, $50 is generous for a baby shower. I usually go $20-$30.

Well, being that cards these days are just as expensive as say, a childs book from the dollar store. I wouldn't figure it in. Do you figure in the cost of the card normally? The diaper raffle is something new. My dd is going to a shower next wkend and told me about it, and I was like. whhhhhaaatt? ha. Diapers are a good 30$ a pack, so that raffle prize better be damn good. I doubt I would figure it in. I would give what I feel comfortable doing.

Well I wouldn't buy an expensive book... I would get a Dr. Seuss book or something similar, so most out of pocket would be $6-$7? The diaper raffle? I wouldn't even know what that is.. but I guess I would just bring a small pack of diapers.. $12?? or something like that. Then my gift would be probably in the $30 dollar range. It might go over $50, might not. It would just depend on my own cash flow what I was doing. I would probably skip the book first before diapers.. because no matter what the baby needs diapers at some point. Books you can go to the thrift store and get tons of them for next to nothing. I would probably just make a card (or I might have one on hand). I don't put a lot of money into cards and wrapping. (usually my wrapping is recycled from another gift, mainly bags/tissue paper).

A book as a card is BRILLIANT!

I buy only 2 things for baby.

6-9 month onesies , And depending when baby was born, long sleeved onesies ( sized for winter).

And newborn diapers, because nobody ever has enough of this size.

I bought a bigger pack. These are for my dd's best friend, so I went off her registry. I haven't bought diapers in a loooong time, So most likely they are cheaper. ha. but still 12-30$, is still quite a bit for a raffle entry.

If you're getting diapers, buy off their registry! At Target, you can exchange the diapers for the right size. For my second kiddo I had a diaper shower and registered for mostly diapers and a few things for a boy since my first was a girl. It was AWESOME! I didn't have to buy diapers for 2 full years between my work and family/friends showers! I did exchange for next size up as my little guy grew. I loved it!

I wouldn't spend over my budgeted amount and would choose to buy a book if that was asked of me.  I love building little ones' libraries!  (Actually my shower gifts are usually books!)

I agree with myshelly - I find expensive cards and wrapping very wasteful.  I am a quilter and have a lot of safety pins for basting and my go to wrap is usually brand new kitchen towels that I buy in big bundles from Costco, or receiving blankets if I can find them at a good price.  I far prefer to use something functional as a wrapping.

Have fun at the shower!

The book would be my gift. In fact, I usually give books.

Your budget is your budget. Spend within your budget. Buy a book or don't. TBH, once they have that baby they'll be too busy to remember what you brought to the shower! Show up, celebrate them, and don't worry about it too much.