Raising a family isn’t cheap!
These days, marketers are doing a great job at convincing new parents that they need ALL THIS STUFF in order to have a happy, healthy baby.
Not so!
That’s why I put together my top five tips for saving money as a new mom! Not all of my tips will fit into your way of doing things, but I hope to share at least one thing that will help you save a little money!
Let’s start at the very beginning, shall we?
Pregnancy Tests
Whether you’re toying with the idea of trying to get pregnant or truly trying to get that way, you may be tempted to clear your local drug store’s shelf of pregnancy tests.
If you want to start this baby adventure off on the right money-saving foot, don’t do it! Here’s what to do instead.
- Purchase ONE pregnancy test from your local dollar store. Chances are good that you’ll only need one to tell you that you’re pregnant if you follow step number two.
- Wait (at least) until the day you’re supposed to start your period to take the test. If you find yourself getting anxious to take it sooner, remember, you’ll be pregnant for an eternity (in non-pregnant minds that means nine months). There’s no need to make it an eternity plus 2 days. And, by waiting to take it, you’ll reduce the chance of a false negative. Besides, if you take it early and it’s negative, you know you’ll end up going back to the store to buy another test to take on the day you actually should have in the first place.
- If your test is negative, wait a few more days before driving back to the dollar store for another test. Chances are your monthly friend will show up later that day!
This may seem like a silly tip, but let’s see how the savings can add up…
Brand name pregnancy test $12.99
2nd brand name test (because you took the 1st one early) $12.99
Total $25.98 plus tax
VS.
Dollar store pregnancy test $ 1.00
Potential Savings $24.98
Now consider that the average couple takes three months to get pregnant. That means you could save up to $75 by going to the dollar store. That $75 will come in handy when you realize you don’t fit into your clothes anymore, which leads me to the next topic…maternity clothes!
Maternity Clothes
I have a hard time getting excited about buying clothes that I’ll be wearing for less than nine months. Usually when I go shopping while pregnant, I’m drawn to shoes, purses and other accessories that aren’t affected by the size of my waist. But I’m already off topic…
Shopping for new clothes when you’re pregnant can be tricky. If you try to build your maternity wardrobe too early, you’ll spend a long time staring into dressing room mirrors trying to imagine what you’ll look like in the outfit with a bigger belly. If you wait too long, you’ll end up so desperate that you buy the first thing that fits and could regret it later.
Here are a few tips for shopping smart and saving money on new clothes during your pregnancy.
- Consider investing in The Tummy Sleeve. This little piece of fabric can extend the life of your regular pants for weeks! In fact, during my first pregnancy I was in regular clothing until well into my second trimester thanks to my Tummy Sleeves! Then, when I transitioned to maternity clothes, the Tummy Sleeve helped keep my slightly-big-in-the-belly maternity pants from dropping below my knees.
- Buy staple pieces and build your wardrobe gradually. You may go through a couple of sizes by the end of the journey so buying a ton of stuff at once may end up backfiring.
- Give eBay a chance. Search “maternity” plus your size, plus “NWT” (new with tags). You can score great deals on brand new maternity clothes from women who didn’t build their wardrobes gradually (see tip number two).
- Borrow from friends your size! Maternity clothes are not the best quality, but you don’t wear them year after year so if someone offers to let you borrow them, do it! Just make sure they have their name on the tags if they want them back. Your memory is not the same after you become a mom. Oh, and be sure to let your friends borrow your collection when the time comes.
- Don’t rule out “normal” clothes. Some of my favorite maternity clothes are items that aren’t maternity clothes at all! My maternity jeans are my low-rise “fat” jeans that I’ve had for years. My maternity bathing suit is a stretchy, comfortable-as-all-get-out tankini from Target. It doesn’t have to be maternity to fit your pregnant self!
- Finally, and I’m not doctor so talk to yours about what’s appropriate for you, but my advice is to eat healthy and keep up your exercise routine to gain the right amount of weight slowly over your pregnancy. You’ll be glad you did when your pre-pregnancy jeans fit before your baby is sleeping through the night! Plus, nobody wants to spend money buying yet another size wardrobe.
Potential Savings
I can’t even guess how much you’ll save by following these tips, but I can tell you that spending too much money on too many clothes that won’t even fit you next season is no way to spend your precious funds. Splurge on your dress for the baby shower, then save your pennies for a killer post-pregnancy pick-me-up outfit. You’ll be glad you did.
Baby Gear
I mentioned all the stuff available for parents these days. It only takes one trip to Babies R Us to figure out that not all baby gear is necessary. That store is o.v.e.r.w.h.e.l.m.i.n.g the first (and second and third) time you go there after learning you’re expecting.
I have three big tips for saving money on baby gear….
- Don’t believe you need everything you see.
- If someone offers to loan baby gear to you, consider taking them up on it! Some things should be purchased new for safety’s sake (like car seats), but there’s lots of useful baby gear in storage out there.
- If you think there’s even the slightest possibility that you’ll have a second baby one day, buy/register for the big-ticket items in neutral colors. In most cases, you’ll only get one shower. Use it wisely.
The trouble with giving advice on what baby gear to pass on is that every family (and baby) is different. We didn’t register for some items just because there’s no room in our house for it! Other things, like the Boppy, just didn’t make much sense to me since mother’s have breastfed from the beginning of time without a special pillow.
Here’s a pretty good rule of thumb: If you have to ask why you would need an item, you probably don’t. That said, it’s also a good idea to get a list of your close friends’ and family members’ “must haves” because if you’re anything like me, you’re clueless about this motherhood thing!
Potential Savings
This list of potential savings is based on the Babies R Us “Must Haves” list and the items my family has deemed unnecessary. You can save big bucks on this one. Here’s the breakdown.
Bassinet/cradle $100
Our rationale: The baby already has a place to sleep. His or Her crib. Bonus! If he or she sleeps there from day one, there’s no need for any anxiety-ridden transition down the road.
Travel System Up to $100
Our rationale: We didn’t need an elaborate travel system for our winter babies. A car seat and snap ‘n go stroller (just a frame the seat fits into) ended up being perfect for us for the few times we used it. Plus, I’m (almost) 5’2” and lifting an awkward, heavy travel system into my trunk was not on my wish list. I highly suggest going to the store and testing all your options before making a decision on strollers.
Walker/Jumper $50
Our rationale: For starters, we have no door frames to hook a jumper to. Then there’s all that talk about walkers hindering babies actual walking. No worries, theBABY learned to walk AND jump without either of these.
Full-size Swing $75 if you go w/ a travel swing, $150 if you skip it totally
Our rationale: There’s no room in our house for this. It was truly that simple. That said, we registered for a travel swing that could easily be stored when it wasn’t being used. Some babies don’t dig swings, so if you know someone with a swing in storage, you may want to test the waters with a borrowed one!
Full-size High Chair Up to $120 if you purchase a space-saver instead
Our rationale: Again, room is tight at our house, so we decided to go with a space-saving seat that fits right on top of a kitchen chair. It’s worked like a charm from 4 months – present (20 months).
Total Potential Savings $520
Think of the diapers that could buy!! Or don’t, because really, it’ll only buy a year’s worth and who ever thought they’d be spending that much on waste management?
Speaking of the cost of diapers….
Diapers
As the slogan goes…you live and learn, then get Luvs.
That’s totally what happened at our house. We registered for Pampers and used them until we ran out of the diapers that were given to us. We tried a couple generic brands, but really didn’t like them. Then we found Luvs. Yay for Luvs!
That’s not the end of the story, though. To get the best price on diapers, you have to….
- Buy the kind that’s on sale
- Use coupons
- Buy them at a place that gives you money off your next shopping trip
I haven’t paid full price for diapers since I started using coupons/store rewards!
Potential Savings
To illustrate your potential for savings, here’s an example of a recent purchase:
- Sale: One box of Pampers on sale for $16.99, regularly $19.99 (saved $3)
- Coupon: One manufacturer’s coupon (saved $1.50)
- Store coupons from previous purchase: $8 in rewards money
Final price: $7.49
Total savings: $12.50
Multiply that $12.50 by the number of times you’ll be buying diapers over the course of the year and you’ll save around $325, so stop paying full price!
Generics
One of the best ways to save money in life in general is to buy generic brands. From medication to cleaning products, generic brands can help keep money in your pocket. It’s no different when it comes to baby supplies.
Here’s the thing, if you find a generic brand that works for your babe, go for it and don’t look back. I’m talking everything from formula, diapers, medicines and laundry detergent.
I know this tip may be a tough one for new parents, so here’s some reassurance. When theBABY was six months old, Tylenol had a huge recall and there was none to be found – anywhere. There were potentially SHARDS OF GLASS in the bottles of medicine for precious babies. We had no choice but to buy generic at that point, and really, why would we ever go back?
More ways to save money every time you shop for your little cutie include……
- Skipping Dreft. Go for a brand like All Free & Clear. You’ll save more than half of the cost!
- If you plan to use formula, do your research. You may not have a choice but to buy what my friends and I refer to as “liquid gold,” but if it’s up to you, consider generic. When I finished nursing, we switched to Up & Up brand and saved $6 a container over the name brand alternative.
- If your baby turns out to be a Miralax-needing prince/princess like ours, Target’s PowderMax works like a charm.
- I’m not a fan of generic diapers, but if they work for you – more power to you!
We’ve come to the end of my money-saving tips for new parents! I hope you learned something useful along the way. If I’ve missed something, leave a comment! I’m always looking for new ways to save.
~theGIRL
