Babies are expensive – there isn’t one person who will tell you they aren’t. Babies are indeed a bundle of joy, but affordable? – No way. You have to be totally ready to have a baby – financially and emotionally. Not only do newborns take a sizeable hit on your wallet and savings, but they can also be a handful. But who are you kidding? – You love it. What can be better than having a new baby, especially if it’s your first one? Fortunately, however, there are a number of ways to save money on costs when you bring a new member of the family home – provided that you are willing to get a little savvy. Here are five ways for families to save money on baby expenses.
- Reuse. You know that old dresser in your garage? Instead of buying a new dresser and changing table for your baby’s nursery, you can always repaint and revamp the one you already have. Chances are that you can find a lot of new uses for a lot of items you already have. The more you can reuse items, the more you can save.
- Multiple uses. When it comes to babies, they will undoubtedly grow out of everything, which can make buying new gadgets and equipment seem like a futile effort. However, there are a number of items that you can get multiple uses out of, like strollers that turn into car seats, cribs that turn into toddler beds and playpens that can be turned into bassinets. There are also a number of other items that you can find multiple uses for, like high chairs that can be lowered to become a child sized chair when your baby enters his or her terrible twos.
- Go vintage or antique. Not only are vintage and antique items more affordable, but they can also be more aesthetically pleasing as well. A lot of new baby cribs, strollers, and car seats are made of bulky plastic that is unattractive and unappealing – not only that, but it always seems to cost a fortune. If you want to save money and have your baby grow up in style, go vintage or antique. Just make sure, though, that the items don’t have paint that contains lead.
- Hand-me-downs. Chances are that you have friends or family who have had a child and can give you a bag or two of clothing that their child has grown out of. This is a great way to save money on baby expenses, because baby clothing can be expensive if you are starting from scratch. You can even get hand-me-downs on toys and other items, like furniture. Sometimes the best nursing pillow is the one your best friend gives you.
- Go handmade. Handmade items are not only more affordable, but they are also more personable. Things like clothing and even furniture are much better when made by mom and dad. The same thing goes for baby food. Who knows, maybe your child will one day give that handmade sweater to his or her child.