Having a baby doesn’t have to cost the earth. Granted, there are some things you will need to buy before your little one is born, but you don’t need to buy every gadget out there, and you don’t need to buy everything in one go. If you stick to the essentials and only buy what you need, you should be able to save money. For more tips, keep reading.
Start Planning When You’re Three Months
Pregnant
Once you have reached
the three-month mark, you’re usually fine to start planning the items that you will need.
Essentials are newborn-sized clothes, wipes, and diapers, bottles and formula.
You will also need something for your baby to sleep in, and a car seat
if you drive. Before you head out to the
closest baby superstore, do some research.
You won’t need to buy every gadget the shop sells, so think about the
things that are going to be most important and start with them. You can always buy the non-essentials once
your baby is born.
Buy Used
Babies grow quickly,
as I’m sure you know, and this means there is a huge second-hand market for
baby items. Everything from clothes and
toys to cots and strollers can be found for as much as 50% less when you buy
used. Often, these items have a lot of
wear still left in them too. The only
items we do recommend that you buy new are a cot mattress and a car seat – this
is for safety reasons.
Hit the Sales
Parents who shop
during the sales and who use coupons can save as much as 30% on the cost of new
items, so it’s well worth doing your research into when these happen. Sites like myfreedeals.com list
a lot of freebies and coupons that can help you save money as well. That said, it is still important to know when
to splurge. There are some baby items
that are worth spending a little more money on, such as a breast pump and
organic bedding. Those who plan on walking a lot with their baby will also
want to invest in a high-quality stroller.
Ditch the Name Brands
Babies don’t know the
difference between Target and the designer brands, so don’t waste money on designer clothing that
your baby will outgrow within three months.
In most cases, it’s not worth spending the extra to buy a name brand,
when a department store brand is just as good.
Set Up a Baby Registry
Finally, why not set
up a baby registry? A lot of people may
want to buy a gift for your little one
but will be unsure of what to buy. A
baby registry enables you to create a list of the items that you need and ask
people to buy them for you. Amazon, Target,
and Babies R Us all offer this feature on their websites, and all have a
comprehensive selection.
Keep the above tips in
mind and having a baby won’t be as expensive as you thought!
