• Sophie Angell, 37, is expecting a baby with her husband Paul, 39, in September
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A mother who refused to spend thousands of pounds on essentials for her newborn baby has revealed how she purchased nappies, a car seat and even two brand-new prams for just £365.

Sophie Angell is expecting a girl with her husband Paul, 39, in September. However, after the birth of her two previous children, aged eight and four, Sophie gave away all of her baby equipment as she believed her family was already complete.

Instead of splashing out on expensive new products, Sophie instead turned to Facebook Marketplace, charity shops, giveaway groups and family friends, picking up premium-brand baby items for a fraction of their original price.

The 37-year-old, who is the proud mother of Finn, eight, and Lily, four, estimates she has saved a remarkable £3,000 - having spent just £365 by using smart money-saving techniques.

'I was confident I could get everything for £1,300, but the reality was much less,' Sophie, a growth consultant from Ribble Valley, Lancashire said.

'With my first baby, we spent over £1,500 on a travel system alone that quickly became too bulky and heavy, so was swapped out for a cheaper lightweight version we used every day for years.

'There were so many things with my first that we just never used and felt like a total waste of money.'

Sophie explained that while she was initially willing to 'treat' herself to a brand new travel system, she discovered that she could easily get the same make and model on Facebook for £100, less than 10 per cent of the shop's price.

Sophie Angell has revealed how she purchased the likes of nappies, a car seat and even two brand-new prams for just £365 by using smart money-saving techniques

Instead of splashing out on expensive new products, Sophie instead turned to Facebook Marketplace, charity shops, giveaway groups and family friends

Sophie Angell is expecting a girl with her husband Paul, 39, in September

'It was just a no brainer', she said.

'I made a list of everything we needed and just kept a look out through my pregnancy. If there was something that caught my eye, I bought it there and then rather than shopping for everything in one go.

'I worked out how much I'd saved by putting the exact make and model of the things I'd bought into ChatGPT, and it showed me their current full price value.'

Among some of Sophie's greatest bargains are two near brand-new Bugaboo prams she bought from Facebook Marketplace for £100 each.

Sophie estimates that the prams, which also came with numerous useful accessories including footmuffs, rain covers and a buggy board for older daughter Lily, would have cost around £1,000 each.

She also bought a Joie 360 car seat from a trusted family friend for £40, a Doona car seat for £50 and a DockATot for £50.

While baby slings can rack up significant costs, Sophie was able to get hold of one for just £10, alongside a Moses basket for £10 and a portable steriliser for £5.

The savvy mother also acquired numerous other accessories, including an Ergo baby carrier and a Maxi-Cosi Iora bedside crib, from either family friends or local Facebook giveaway groups.

Sophie said one of her favourite places to shop to find bargain deals is her local Barnardo's children's store, where she has regularly discovered premium baby products at heavily discounted prices.

'It really amazes me how many things you can get in Barnardo's for a fraction of the price, like double jogger prams, walkers and jumparoos, she said.

Sophie estimates she has saved a remarkable £3,000. Pictured: some of the pricey items Sophie managed to purchase

Among some of Sophie's greatest bargains are two near brand-new Bugaboo prams she bought from Facebook Marketplace for £100 each

Sophie (pictured with her husband and two children) said one of her favourite places to shop to find bargain deals is her local Barnardo's children's store

'So many of these big items cost a fortune, and there's no guarantee your baby will like them; it's such a waste of money.

'Charity shops get new things in daily, so make friends with the ladies in the shop and ask them to call you if there's something specific you're looking for. Those in affluent areas are absolute gold mines.'

Sophie also recommends checking Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, local baby sales, supermarket promotions, outlet stores and Aldi's middle aisle.

She even set up ChatGPT alerts to notify her when major baby retailers launched sales.

However, she notes that she ensures to buy brand-new mattresses for cots, prams and Moses baskets and stresses the importance of following safe sleep guidelines.

In addition, Sophie has only ever purchased a second-hand car seat from someone she knows to ensure that it has never been involved in an accident.

Before using any item, she ensures it is steam-cleaned and disinfects it to avoid any health concerns.

For any other soon-to-be parents hoping to save money, Sophie advises creating a list of all of the items you would like to purchase, before researching on second-hand websites to see if you can find the same items on a budget.

'Create a list or Google Sheet and share with your family and friends,' she added.

'People will want to buy you things, but without direction you'll end up with 100 newborn onesies. It's better to ask for actually useful things. They can keep an eye out in their local area for bargains too.

'Research when supermarkets or Amazon have their big sales, and buy nappies and wipes in bulk. If you're struggling to find a particular item, post a request on a local Facebook group. I'll be giving away my haul after I've used it so other parents can benefit too.'

Sophie believes the £3,000 she has saved will make a real difference as her family prepares for their new arrival, allowing them to 'bank that money' and ensure she has 'longer at home with my baby'.

'I felt less financial pressure because I knew I wouldn't need to spend crazy amounts', she said.

'I haven't bought this baby any clothes at all, for example, because I knew family and friends would buy more than enough. Babies actually don't need that much.'