Sadly a money tree has yet to be discovered which means that more and more of us are on tight budgets.
Couples who have dreams of starting a family might be tempted to put off trying for a baby until the “time is right”, but is the time ever right?
Will your financial situation ever be perfect?
Probably not.
The good news is that you can have the family you always dreamed of, even if your budget is tight.
There are many ways you can cut corners and save cash without having to wave goodbye to your dream of holding that baby in your arms.
Let’s explore a few of the best ones.
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1. Breastfeed, it’s Cheaper than Formula Feeding
Breastfeeding is completely free and you will need very little, if any, equipment if you feed straight from the breast.
You will find it saves you a lot of cash versus formula.
Reusable breast pads save even more cash.
Your baby will be getting the nutrients he or she needs and it will save you a large amount of money.
If you go down the expressing route that’s also cheaper than formula feeding, but you will need a little more gear.
2. Cloth Diapers Are a Cheaper Option
While you might be screwing up your nose at the idea of using reusable diapers, think about it for a second.
You’re doing your bit for the environment (disposable diapers are a huge problem for the planet), and you’re saving a huge amount of cash (approximately $1500 on one child and the more children you have the cheaper it becomes).
Disposable diapers are very expensive over time as you generally need to buy them for at least two years.
Cloth diapers can be washed, dried, and away you go to use them again.
The more children you have, the more money you will save.
3. Stick to Essential Baby Clothing Only
It’s super-easy to go over the top when you see all those cute baby outfits in the stores.
You want your child to look fashionable and chic, but come on they are probably just going to spit up on those fancy clothes anyway.
Essential baby clothing is really all you need, and by sticking to the essentials you can save a large amount of cash.
If someone wants to buy baby clothes for you as a gift, that’s great. In reality, you really only need the following:
- 10 x short sleeved bodysuits, aged 0-3 months
- 10 x Footies, aged 0-3 months
- Around 10 pairs of socks
- Around 5 to 10 long sleeved tops
- Around 4 cardigans, hoodies, or sweaters
- Between 5-8 pairs of leggings or pants
- 4 x hats
- An all in one coat or romper suit if it’s winter time
- Mittens and winter hat
That’s it!
Related: 50 Essentials to Put on Your Baby Registry
4. Have a Baby Shower
If your family and friends want to throw you a baby shower, this is a great time to stock up on the essentials!
When your friends ask you what you want, request gift card to put towards the big purchases like a crib, car seat, stroller or crib mattress.
Or you can make a list or a registry and stick to the essential items.
It might sound sneaky but your friends want to help you out. So let them!
5. Avoid Buying Maternity Clothes
Unless you’re planning on becoming pregnant again in the near future, avoid maternity clothing.
Instead buy cheaper, regular clothes like pants, leggings, and over-sized t-shirts in bigger sizes.
Invest in a belly band, a waist extender and bra extender.
Then you don’t need to purchase new clothing that is only going to last you a few months at the most.
6. Steer Clear of the Extras
You’re going to be tempted with products that you don’t really need.
Be strict with yourself and stick to the essentials only.
You don’t need a nappy bin, a normal bin will do.
You don’t need a changing table when a bed will work.
You don’t need a diaper dispenser when a basket will do just fine.
Save cash by not going for bells and whistles.
7. Buy Second Hand And Accept Hand me Downs
You don’t really need to buy everything brand new, as much as you might want to.
The only brand new items you really need are a mattress and a car seat. If you’re expressing, you will probably want a new a breast pump (but not necessarily!).
Everything else you can buy second hand. Babies use things for such a short period of time that it’s really easy to buy very good quality almost new items at a fraction of the cost.
Also accept hand me downs from friends and family.
8. Use a Sling or a Wrap Instead of a Stroller or Pram
If you don’t want to buy a costly stroller or pram, you can invest in a sling or a wrap instead.
This helps keep your baby close to you, helping him or her to settle, and it saves you a huge amount of cash too.
Of course, if you’re going to be out and about a lot, you may need some kind of stroller at some point, but again, second hand options are always there.
9. Sign up for Coupons and Money Saving Offers
There are all manner of baby clubs and coupon websites these days.
You can find real bargains if you look hard enough.
Sign up to all the newsletters and coupon sites and see what you can find.
Your inbox might be cluttered for a while, but you can always unsubscribe at a later date.
Related: 28 Free Baby Samples, Coupons and Baby Boxes to Claim Now
As you can see having a baby can be done on a budget.
It doesn’t have to cost as much as you might think.