Last night I was putting BG to bed.  We use a baby gate to lock her off from the rest of the house.  This way I know she isn't getting into any trouble while we're all sleeping.  I went to latch the gate, but it wouldn't lock.  So, instead of doing the logical thing and taking a closer look and trying to re-adjust it I did the "I"m tired, just work damn it" thing and pressed harder.  The handle buckled under the pressure and snapped.  After getting over the shock of the broken gate BG proclaimed that we had to go to the "baby gate store" to buy a new one!

I've been there, done that.  I had no desire to pay $30-$60 for a large piece of plastic just because of my newly discovered brute strength.  So, I did what any normal person would do, I checked Freecycle.  No luck.  With little chance of a weekday yard sale the next best option was Craigslist.

I did a search for baby gate.  I found a posting from the same day for a baby gate right in my neighborhood.  Asking price was $2.  I figured it was probably already gone, but it was worth a try.  I e-mailed.  I left my phone number hoping to be able to pick it up that same night.  No one called.

After we put the kids to bed and Hubby finished rigging the broken gate into position, I checked my e-mails. 

"It's yours,"  was the response.

I picked up my used, functioning baby gate this morning, on my way to work, for two dollars AND I spent less gas than I would have going to the "baby gate store!"