Save $10 on a SweetPea MP3 Player

In this week’s baby bargainista column, Jenny shares a discount code for one of her favourite toys from 2008.

Back in December I wrote about one of our more successful holiday purchases – a SweetPea MP3 player for our 4-year-old. To this day we’re still very happy with the product, and the continuing customer service from the small Canadian company that sells them. For example, we continue to get email updates alerting us to free software upgrades available their website, and updates to their online troubleshooting guide happen regularly.

And, for the month of March, the good folks behind the SweetPea are offering $10 off with a special promo code! Just enter the code 23T6S on the order page of their website to reduce the price by $10.

Also, if you comment on or become a fan of their Facebook page before end of day on March 31st, you’ll be automatically entered in a draw to win a free SweetPea MP3 player.

Best buys of 2008 for moms of little ones

In this week’s baby bargainista column, Jenny reflects on her best purchases in 2008...

In January, when others are making resolutions for the new year, I find myself doing the opposite – looking back and reflecting on the year gone past, including what small triumphs were found through purchases that turned out to be great deals or investments.

By far my best pregnancy-related purchase of the year was the M coat. Not only did I score 20% off, but every time I wear it in public I get multiple compliments and queries about where to find it.

Only time will tell if I get as much use out of the zip insert after the baby comes as I hope (the insert can be zipped in an “A” shape to cover a belly, or a “V” shape so baby can be worn in a front carrier and zipped snugly inside the coat) – but every time the thermometer dips below zero, I’m glad I have my cosy M coat to keep me warm on the long walk from the subway station to my OB’s office!

My best kid-related purchase of the year, aside from the various holiday gifts I’ve already written about (like the SweetPea3), are the ice skates we bought at Play It Again Sports. Only gently used, you can’t beat the $30 price tag; especially when you consider that our 4-year-old will likely only wear them a dozen times this winter. And, bonus: when she needs a larger size next year, Play it Again Sports will give us cash on the trade-in!

And best of all, having the skates gives my husband a reason to take our girl out to the local rink for one-on-one skating lessons – a lovely daddy-daughter activity that gives me plenty of “mommy time” to rest up at home for when the baby arrives!

What was your best purchase of 2008?

Most memorable Christmas gifts

In this week’s baby bargainista column, Jenny shares the best item she bought for her daughter this Christmas...

With the whirlwind of Christmas (mostly) behind us, I find myself reflecting on what we’ve been given this year and in the past.

Sometimes the most memorable gifts are the least appropriate. I don’t think anything will ever top the year that I got a can of WD-40 from my dad (clearly he did his own shopping) and breast-firming cream from my sister-in-law (really the kind of thing one should only buy for oneself, not for others, don’t you think?). I’m happy to report that this year our gifts were memorable for other reasons.

One of the best, most thoughtful presents we received was a donation made on our behalf to a food bank. Goodness knows we don’t require another tchotchke when there are families in need of much more basic necessities. It warmed my heart to know that the money that could have been spent on us went instead to help others.

Our 4-year-old would be hard pressed at this stage to name just one favorite gift; but I personally am very satisfied with one item we gave to her – the SweetPea3 MP3 player – the “MP3 player of choice for the discerning toddler.”

The SweetPea3 is a durable, rugged, toddler-friendly music player about the size of an old-fashioned transistor radio. It comes with a USB cable so you can easily rip and load your little one’s favorite songs or CDs, and its 1GB flash holds about 15 hours of music and/or audiobooks.

I love that there are only three buttons to select and play the songs, and that the volume is controlled by the parents via a hidden switch. There’s also a timer, so you can set it to play your little one’s favorite lullabies at bedtime, and it will switch off by itself.

I also love that I ordered it online on Dec. 8 and it was delivered on Dec. 19, well in time to be wrapped and placed under the tree. Most of all, I love that in between ordering and delivery, I received two (two!) unprompted update emails letting me know where the item was in its shipping cycle. I didn’t have to search the product website or go through Canada Post to find out its status. Now that, to me, is great customer service!

What’s your most memorable gift this holiday season?