I admit BABIES ARE EXPENSIVE. But that just doesn’t mean that the arrival of a baby should turn your family budget upside down!
I am not joking. You must have noticed how currency notes just vanish into thin air after the arrival of your little hero or heroine
Babies are little magicians. They are really good at vanishing money from our wallets!!There is no doubt that our munchkins are our first priority and we strive to provide the best of everything we can for them.
In this run to provide the best, knowingly or unknowingly we spend more than what is actually required. At last we end up with limited amount of money to meet our other priorities.
With a little planning and preparation you can easily minimize your expenses without compromising on your baby’s basic needs.
In this article I am providing some basic budgeting tips that you can follow to maintain that financial balance post baby.
Cut Your Unnecessary Baby Expenses with These 13 Money Saving Tips:
If you are a parent, knowing how to budget is a definite must.
Being first time parents, at first it was difficult for us too to reduce the expenses on the baby. But from experience, we have learned a lot about raising a baby on a budget.
Below are 13 simple-yet-effective money saving tips to raise a baby on a budget.
#1. No luxury hospital rooms for delivery:
This is one of the money saving tips which can be imbibed right from the parents to be stage.
Now-a-days most of the hospitals have rooms with all facilities from TV, AC, Wi-Fi, fridge and all those gadgets.
Just don’t book such rooms. It is just an extra expense with no use.
You are anyways not going to watch TV serials when you are struggling with your labor pain. Trust me, most of the time you will be in a labor room.
#2. Breastfeed your baby:
As long as possible breastfeed your baby.
Breastfeeding is not only healthy for you and your baby; it is also healthy for your wallet.
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#3. Spend less on baby clothes and shoes:
Babies grow very fast.
Before you can imagine, your adorable baby will outgrow those branded pricey jumpsuit you just bought her.
Babies don’t need fancy pricey clothes; they need comfortable clothes!.Resist the urge to splurge on baby clothes and shoes. Always buy cheap, but quality clothes for your baby.
Babies don’t require shoes until they are really walking. Spending lot of money on foot wares is just a waste.
#4. Make baby food at home:
Making baby food at home is cheaper and healthier than buying expensive artificially preserved baby foods.
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#5. Buy minimum at the start:
If you aren’t sure which products will work best for your baby (especially with formula, bottles, pacifiers, even diapers), buy the minimum to start with. Stock up once you know your baby’s preferences.
For example, if you are buying diapers, first go for a sample pack or just one small pack. If your baby is comfortable wearing that particular brand diapers, then you can stock up on the same.
- How to choose the right diaper for your baby?
#6. Buy only what you need:
When you have a baby it is natural to have that urge to buy whatever you see at a baby shop.
Before you buy that baby gear, first think wisely whether it is actually needed for your baby or not. Lots of first-time parents complain about winding up with tons of unused gear and goods.
For instance, if you rarely go for long distance drives with your baby and you prefer putting your baby on your lap while travelling, you actually don’t have to buy a car seat for your baby.
#7. Look for convertible baby gears:
Buy toys and other baby gears that can be converted to new forms according to your baby’s age and needs.
A crib that converts into a toddler bed will definitely save you some cash over the years. A stroller that can serve as a car seat as well can be an added advantage.
#8. Don’t buy fancy baby products:
A cradle with recorded lullabies, light and sound system and a baby monitor sounds good. But do you actually need to spend on such a product?
What if after you buy this high-end cradle, your baby finds it more comfortable sleeping with you?
What if he just doesn’t like all those sound and music?
Never go for fancy baby products. Buy products that meet the basic needs.
#9. Buy age appropriate toys and gears:
Your baby is ready to crawl and at that time you buy a brand new play gym for your baby.
Do you expect your curious little crawler to lie down and play under that play gym? Definitely he will be crawling all around the house.
From the above example, I think you got what I meant by ‘buying age appropriate toys and gears’.
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#10. Search for sales and offers:
You can always find offers and sales on diapers, cloths and toys.
Don’t wait to think for a second time when you can get an offer. Just grab it
#11. Buy or borrow second hand baby gears:
If you can it is wise to buy/borrow baby gears like bathtub, high chair, stroller etc.
There will be always a close friend or a relative who have dumped those precious baby gears in the garage just because their children are now too old to use baby products.
Always make sure that secondhand products you buy/borrow are usable and in good condition.
#12. Use older child’s baby gears or save for your future babies:
If you are planning for future babies, it is always good to save baby gears, clothes and toys of your first baby for your future babies to come.
#13. Get a piggy bank for your baby:
Get a piggy bank exclusively for your baby. Toss in your loose change or slide in a fixed amount of money now and then.
Let the money build up and you can use it later; may be buy a good birthday present for your baby, donate for charity on baby’s birthday or even something more important.
Hope these money saving tips will help you to maintain a financial balance even with a highly demanding priceless little bundle of joy – your baby
Share with me in comments what’s your best money saving tips post baby that you have adopted in your life.
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