As the owner of a baby store, my advice to parents is to shop for your child or baby, the same way you would intelligently shop for yourself. Basics don't need to be super expensive. Solid colored onesies come very inexpensive as do other pieces like that - think leggings, casual pants, pjs etc. We're big fans of American Apparel for the baby basics. Then you can spend more money on the layering pieces to add a little style to your baby's wardrobe. In the winter if you're layering, purchase the top pieces slightly bigger so they will last you longer and your money will go further. Headbands and hats get tons of mileage and as accessories can transform any look (see, not much different than ourselves). I will say though that I'm a fan of investing in soft pieces. Sometimes less expensive brands aren't as soft and comfortable as ones that are a little pricier because of the quality of materials. It's important to a lot of our customers and to me as a mom that my child be extremely comfy - bamboo is a great fabric that gets this done, but again doesn't come so cheap. If you plan out what you need each season and set a budget for yourself it definitely helps. With the left over money you can pick up the items you see and "must have" even if you know deep down they aren't necessities - because sometimes things are just too cute to pass up!