Ever since we went to the beach this spring and stayed in a condo with a bunk room, our boys have been crazy about bunk beds. A few weeks ago, in anticipation of the annual request for a Christmas List, I asked Caleb what he wanted Nanna and Papa to get him for Christmas. His response was immediate: bunk beds. Ethan agreed excitedly, and they haven't stopped talking about it since. I've asked them lots of times, in different ways and in different contexts, if they would rather have (1) a lot of new toys or (2) a bunk bed for Christmas, and they have both always answered "BUNK BEDS!" Since I was pretty sure bunk beds were going to be outside of Nanna and Papa's Christmas toy budget, I even (this is so bad), gave the kids toy magazines and showed them pictures on the computer of the new toys they could have, just in case they were having trouble visualizing this choice. But, no dice: they want bunk beds.
So, I started doing some online and phone shopping (the only kind of shopping I do since the kids are always with me). Unfortunately, the lowest-end wooden bunk beds with steps were going to cost $750 to $800, and that's without the mattresses. Add two twin mattresses and two sets of twin bedding, and the total cost was above $1,000. Not looking good... Fortunately, Craig's List came to our rescue (yet again). I found the exact bunk bed we wanted from Rooms To Go, two years old and in excellent condition. The seller was asking $550 (about $200 less than the new retail price), but I bargained her down to $350 (woo-hoo!). At that excellent price, Nanna and Papa happily bought the bunk beds.
To my surprise, I was even able to sell the boys' current queen-sized bed on Craig's List for $100, which should cover the cost of the new bedding (just sheets, mattress covers and cotton blankets). To preserve the surprise, the bunk beds will stay hidden and the boys will "camp out" in their sleeping bags until Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we'll move the kids out of their bedrooms after they fall asleep and then set everything up. Maybe we'll even do a scavenger hunt in the morning (like Mimi always does with their stockings) that ends with them discovering their remodeled room. We still need two twin mattresses to complete the package, but I have no doubt that there are going to be two very, very happy little boys on Christmas morning!
So, I started doing some online and phone shopping (the only kind of shopping I do since the kids are always with me). Unfortunately, the lowest-end wooden bunk beds with steps were going to cost $750 to $800, and that's without the mattresses. Add two twin mattresses and two sets of twin bedding, and the total cost was above $1,000. Not looking good... Fortunately, Craig's List came to our rescue (yet again). I found the exact bunk bed we wanted from Rooms To Go, two years old and in excellent condition. The seller was asking $550 (about $200 less than the new retail price), but I bargained her down to $350 (woo-hoo!). At that excellent price, Nanna and Papa happily bought the bunk beds.
To my surprise, I was even able to sell the boys' current queen-sized bed on Craig's List for $100, which should cover the cost of the new bedding (just sheets, mattress covers and cotton blankets). To preserve the surprise, the bunk beds will stay hidden and the boys will "camp out" in their sleeping bags until Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we'll move the kids out of their bedrooms after they fall asleep and then set everything up. Maybe we'll even do a scavenger hunt in the morning (like Mimi always does with their stockings) that ends with them discovering their remodeled room. We still need two twin mattresses to complete the package, but I have no doubt that there are going to be two very, very happy little boys on Christmas morning!
2 comments:
That's a great Christmas present! The drawers in the stairs are really fun.
I loved reading your post, Rachel! How fun that the boys are getting bunk beds for Christmas. Be sure and snap some pics to post of their precious faces when they see them! :)
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