I know from personal experience that having a baby can be one of the most thrilling, and terrifying, times in anyone’s life. I have to admit that I was more worried about the financial aspects of raising a child than anything else. I lived in constant fear of the price of diapers, formula, and crib sheets for months, until I remembered that I am the cheapest person alive, and I needed to harness these skills if I was going to make it. My daughter is now three, and somehow my husband and I managed to keep our head above water, and even afford to buy a house, on a single income. This may seem like an impossible task, but even in these troubled times you can still have a baby and avoid total financial ruin, if you know how to save money on the basics.
Every expecting couple toys with the idea of using cloth diapers, but this is completely abandoned the first time they have to load a washer full of soiled, stinky cotton baby underwear. Realistically, disposable diapers are your best option. The key phrase to remember when doing a little comparison shopping is this: buy in bulk. You can either head to your nearest warehouse club, or visit www.diapers.com. Shipping is free on orders over $49, and you don’t have to stop at diapers. This site offers great deals on other essentials such as wipes, books, toys, and baby wash. My diaper brand of choice has always been Luvs, and for a size 1 diaper I would typically spend about $.14 a diaper when purchasing them in a case of 264 from this site. This is compared to $.17 or more per diaper when bought in a smaller count. That may not seem like a lot of money, but it really adds up over time, and can give you a little extra cash to invest the larger bottle of aspirin.
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Get in on a baby clothing hand-me-down chain. I received several pieces of my daughter’s clothing from a good friend whose little girl is four months older than mine. I in turn handed these same garments to my sister’s baby who is 9 months younger than mine. My sister then gives these pieces of clothing to her coworker’s baby, and so on, and so on. I am all for shopping at second hand and thrift stores for me, but I am always concerned about the origins of clothing that will end up on my daughter’s back. The nice thing about these chains is you are receiving an entire wardrobe of baby or toddler clothing for free without having to agonize about their questionable history.
Have fun shopping for baby, and if he or she is your first, don't feel bad if you splurge a little. This includes giving a gift to yourself as well. Here is a message to any pregnant women out there who don’t have any other little ones at home: treat yourself now. Go to the spa. Take a little vacation. Have fun before the baby comes because your life is about to become about spit up and midnight feedings, instead of martinis and dinner parties. Good luck!
Here is another interesting post by Jaime: Potty Training Almost Made Simple
Tags:
parenting,
baby