EVERY parent wants a happy, healthy child and the backyard is the perfect place for little ones to be active, without having to be hauled to the park every day.
Play equipment such as cubby houses and swings are the ultimate babysitter and they don't have to cost a fortune.
I must stipulate that my husband and I adore our two-year-old son Xander but there comes a point when you just can't play yet another game of hide-and-seek.
That's why we decided to invest in a play set Xander could climb on and slide down until his heart's content.
But after looking at the prices attached to new equipment (between $200 and $1000) we decided to try our luck at finding suitable second-hand goodies.
Websites such as eBay and Gumtree are handy resources and then there's online garage sale pages on social media sites such as Facebook.
These pages are specific to an area and can have thousands of members, meaning you might be able to find the perfect outdoor play gym at a great price in a nearby suburb.
We found a Little Tikes climbing set with slide for $40 — a saving of about $150.
A sudsy wash with the high-pressure hose and the equipment was good to go.
If you can put up with the fact the sun has caused a bit of colour fade, there's no reason to shun second-hand play equipment.
It probably goes without saying, but make sure there's no damage to the used equipment that might cause an injury to your precious little one.