There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of having a baby. Whether it’s your first, and the twosome is now becoming a family, or the new arrival is going to become a little brother or sister for another excited child it’s always a time of intense joy mixed with a little bit of stress. You worry about everything going right during the birth, and you worry about the baby’s health. But for many people the primary concern is financial. A baby doesn’t only bring a whole lot more love into your life, but also another line item within the family’s monthly budget. And it will be a hefty one. There’s cribs, car seats, and changing stations, diapers, formula and soft wipes, and enough toys, stuffed animals and books to keep Toys ‘R Us in business indefinitely. You want your child to have everything life has to offer, but your bank account doesn’t always go along with that sentiment. So here are five ways your family can save on baby expenses.
First of all, don’t be afraid to take advantage of gently used hand-me-downs. There’s absolutely no reason for your child to have everything brand new, especially with how often he will grow out of everything. Start off by reaching out to family and friends who have children, to see what they’re getting rid of. You might be able to put together your child’s entire wardrobe this way. If you luck out you could also come up with furniture and bedding as well. Once you work your way through all of your personal connections, consider thrift stores and yard sale shopping.
Next, consider either repurposing old furniture or buying pieces that can be used in multiple ways. Modern baby furniture is often meant to be multipurpose, and cutting down on the amount of stuff you need to buy obviously cuts down on the bills. Look for a combination stroller/car seat. Not only will you get the two-for-one savings, but you’ll also find the transfer from in the car to on the street to be a lot easier. Also look for cribs that can be adjusted into toddler beds as your baby ages, or repaint older furniture with baby colors to upcycle your newborn’s bedroom.
There are a ton of health-related reasons to go this route, but choosing to breastfeed instead of feeding your baby formula will save you heaps of money. A year’s worth of baby formula can cost as much as $2,000. You can use that money elsewhere if you breastfeed. You will want to get yourself a pump, but according to new tax laws you can actually deduct the cost of that purchase. Ask your doctor about the health implications for you and your baby. But breastfeeding is a natural way to save big.
As your baby graduates off of breast milk you’ll enter the territory of solid food. And baby food is another significant cost. Those little jars are expensive, especially if you care about nutrition and only want to serve your child the best there is. If you take a look at the list of ingredients on any jar of baby food, you’ll find they’re pretty simple. That is why many people will make their own baby food. All you’ll need are fresh fruits and vegetables and a hand blender that’s up to frequent usage. You get to control exactly what your child eats, and control the cost as well.
Just as in other situations, coupons will be your best friend when you have a new baby. You will have to put the time into hunting down the top deals, and might want to join all of the membership clubs for your various supermarkets. But if you spread this work out so that you’re only clipping coupons for a short amount of time every day you will consistently save as much as 10% off of your most frequent purchases. You’ll find coupons for everything from Familycord to diapers, and that savings will add up in a big hurry