The moment that the pregnancy test reveals that there is a baby on the way, everything in your life will change. You will start reading parenting books, looking up future daycares online, picking out cute onesies for them to wear and planning what the nursery will look like. A lot of these changes can cost a pretty penny, so here are suggestions that can help you cut costs and save money for when the newest member of your family finally arrives.
1.Prioritize Spending On Essentials:
It’s tempting to fill your shopping cart with adorable toys, decorations and gadgets, but these items should not be at the top of your list. One of the best ways to save on baby stuff is to shorten your shopping list and focus on pieces that you know without a doubt will be used every single day, like:
- A Crib
- A Dresser
- A Changing Table
- Bottles
- Baby Monitors
- A Car Seat
- A Stroller
You can get things like clothes and books from other parents looking to unload the baby stuff they’ve accumulated. It’s important to remember that infants grow incredibly fast and they can move up the sizing chart in a matter of weeks. Buying an entire dresser’s worth of expensive clothing will feel like a waste of money.
2.Skip The Store And DIY Instead:
When it comes to certain non-essential items, you can save money by making them yourself. You can quickly knit or crochet pairs of baby booties, winter hats and soft blankets before the due date. Instead of buying a spinning mobile, design one using an embroidery hoop and inexpensive art supplies. Another fun way to use your crafty skills to make DIY nursery art is to take leftover yarn in one color and wrap it around wood or cardboard letters — spell out a word like love and family or their name if you’ve decided on it already.
3.Be Smart About Diapers:
Don’t underestimate the number of diapers you will have to go through in a single year. The average baby will use between six to ten diapers per day, which will cost around a thousand dollars by the end of the year. Parents who want to cut diaper costs can think about buying cloth diapers instead of disposable ones — the price tag will seem higher at first, but their reusable nature will prove to be economical in the long-term.
You can also encourage relatives and friends to buy you diapers, coupons and gift cards instead of clothing and toys. Some parents host events called diaper parties where guests are supposed to bring one box of diapers as a present — these events are often seen as the father’s equivalent of a traditional baby shower. If you want to do this, ask people to bring a range of sizes and styles so that you’re prepared throughout the year
4.Start Building Your Budget Right Away:
According to data collected in 2015, the cost of a baby’s first year was an average of $12, 680 for a middle-income household — this will be even higher when you take years of inflation into account. A lot of these savings will be spent before the little one even gets home, going to hospital bills and essential items like car seats and strollers.
It’s entirely possible that you get surprised with an expense like a flooded basement, a broken-down car or a trip to the hospital. If you already spent your budget on baby essentials and you don’t have enough in the bank to deal with an emergency, you can go to MoneyKey.com to get a little bit of help — efficient cash loans can give you the opportunity to deal with those costs immediately and then repay at a comfortable pace. This could be useful for getting the family through a tight spot and for reducing your stress during such a significant time. A cash advance is only a solution when you’ve exhausted all other means. You should always incorporate emergencies into your budget so that you don’t have to worry or panic.
It’s impossible to know what expenses await you when you officially become a new parent. Maybe your child will grow faster than expected and use up all of the newborn clothes you got right away. Maybe they won’t adjust to breastfeeding and will need to be fed formula instead. There is no way to predict what will happen, but it’s best to be financially prepared.
