8 Genius Hacks To Budget For Baby Without Going Broke
Babies don’t have to be expensive! Here are 8 genius savvy tips to budget for baby without going broke! By using a little frugal savvy you can budget for baby and stay out of debt in anticipation of your new little bundle!
It’s totally possible to budget for baby to avoid spending a small fortune!
Having a baby is a life changing event. Seriously, I know that it sounds completely cliché but, it’s the truth. The second that tiny human enters the world your life is changed forever.
You’re now 100% responsible for the care of this little person which includes everything from their emotional to physical needs. But, physical needs can get expensive. People who tell you that kids aren’t expensive are lying.
Consumerism is such that things people need and want cost money. Consumerism also targets the most vulnerable.
And, parents – specifically first time ones are prime targets for overspending when it comes to babies. $900 dollar stroller car seat combos anyone?
Baby gear, clothing, accessories and basic essentials can cost a heap of money if you’re not savvy and prepared.
If you’re not careful, babies can and will completely bust your budget.
They’re cute as hell but also run the risk of ruining you financially (okay, ruining is probably a strong word) if you’re not careful.
This is why a budget for baby is vital to being prepared for baby’s arrival!
When I was pregnant I spent months planning for my little’s arrival.
I was on bed rest so I had the time to research, plan and make sure that every penny we spent was being spent wisely (AKA I had nothing else to do).
Sure, it was time consuming and I probably obsessed over the numbers a little too much.
BUT, I became super savvy at preparing a budget for baby.
Seriously guys, I had the time and motivation to find the absolutely best ways to save money and stay on budget for baby in anticipation of my daughters birth.
With that, I want to share 8 hacks that we used to budget for baby without racking up any debt or busting our budget!
Having a baby and staying out of debt and not overspending is totally possible – here’s how you can do it too!
8 Genius Hacks To Budget For Baby Without Going Broke
1. Don’t invest in items that will only be used short term
The amount of overpriced baby gear available to parents will blow your mind.
You can easily drop $1000 on a name brand stroller car seat combo.
Car seats are absolutely worth the investment (just make sure your money is buying a good quality car seat and not a pretty fabric know what I’m saying?) because safety always comes first.
But, when it comes to strollers you got to keep in mind that you likely wont be using it for that long.
Other items that fall into this category are things like high chairs, tummy time mats, walkers, jumperoos, swings, bassinets, MamaRoo’s and even clothes.
If you’re interested, we used the Graco Snugfit Click Connect 35 infant car seat. I loved the car seat for its safety recommendations and overall comfort but did find it a little heavy as baby got bigger.
Babies are funny little things too.
The tummy time mat that sings, has adorable dangly things and lights up might look super cute.
But, there’s always a chance your baby will HATE it. That really sucks when you’re talking expensive baby gear, know what I’m saying?
Nothing sucks more than dropping a ton of cash on an expensive MamaRoo only to find out your baby just doesn’t like it.
It does happens folks.
So, our number one tip for creating a budget for baby is to try not to spend too much money on stuff that you’ll either only be using short term or maybe not at all.
2. Create a baby fund
There’s no better time than now to start saving for baby as part of your plan to budget for baby.
Besides baby gear and the up front investment of setting up for baby’s arrival you need to start factoring in the cost of diapers, wipes and formula if you’re not breastfeeding.
Long term savings towards college funds, health care and emergency funds are also a good idea.
So, any little bit you can budget for baby on a weekly or monthly basis will help greatly when it comes to anticipating the costs of your new little one.
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3. Buy whatever you can used
Babies outgrow their clothes and gear SO quickly that it makes poor financial sense to invest large amount of money into baby gear and clothes.
Instead, budget for baby by planning ahead and scouring the used market for good quality used gear.
Baby gear is usually in pretty great shape because kiddos out grow it so quickly without really using it.
I can’t tell you how many “new” used items I scored because baby never got around to using it or just didn’t like it.
When buying used, you often have the option of being super picky because there is just so much used baby gear to choose from.
Baby gear is also designed to be cleaned because babies make messes right?
So, that totally means you can sanitize and disinfect any gear your bring home.
Once it’s cleaned I can almost guarantee you that it’ll be just about as good as new.
You might also find helpful: Buying Used: Why Buying Second Hand Isn’t Gross
4. Try to breastfeed
Although breastfeeding doesn’t work out for everyone (? I wasn’t able to breastfeed long-term) it is a great way to budget for baby.
In addition to all the obvious health benefits associated with breastfeeding your little one your bank account will be much happier too!
Formula is super expensive and as a baby ages and drinks more the costs can escalate pretty quickly.
Depending on which type of formula you’re using costs can inflate super quickly.
Any type of specialty formula (think dairy free, egg free, milk protein free) can cost a family an absolute fortune.
So, breastfeeding is clearly an awesome way to budget for baby.
If you’re looking for an awesome breast pump to help you on your breastfeeding journey I have nothing but great reviews of the Medela Pump in Style Double Electric Breast Pump.
If breastfeeding is something you are planning to do and know you’ll need to pump, the Medela Pump in Style is absolutely the way to go.
It’s super efficient and makes pumping far less tedious than other electric or manual pumps.
5. Always be at least one season ahead
My biggest savvy secret when it comes to creating a budget for baby (and kids) is to always be at least one season ahead.
Essentially, when baby was a newborn (December) I was already stockpiling clothes, toys and gear she would be using during the summer months.
In other wards I was buying things for a 6-9 month old baby.
Approaching things this way allows your to take your time and get your hands on the absolute best quality used gear that’s available.
By spreading out your purchases you’re also spending in small amounts rather than all at once which makes sticking to a budget for baby far easier.
Pro tip: the best time to buy used gear is at the end of the season. If you’re looking for snow gear for next winter it’s always a good idea to buy it in the early spring. People are eager to unload their snow gear and you can benefit from great quality items at a fraction of the cost. The same principle applies to stocking up on summer clothes and goods. Start looking around in early fall for the following summer.
6. Sell your baby gear as you go
If you know that you’re not planning to have any more children or that you aren’t planning to grow your family for a few more years you might be interested in cashing in on your baby gear clutter as a part of your budget for baby plan.
Selling off clothes, gear and other baby items when you are finished using them is a great way to budget for baby.
I would sell off things my little had finished using or wearing and re-invest it into buying clothes, toys and other essentials that she’d be needing as she got older.
This is an amazing way to budget for baby because you’re essentially re-purposing your initial investment without touching your baby sinking fund.
You might also find helpful: How to Cash in on Your Toy and Baby Clutter
7. Stockpile diapers and wipes
When diapers are on sale you should absolutely stock up. This is a must when you are creating a budget for baby.
The same idea applies to wipes. Babies use tons and tons and tons of diapers and so, waiting until you’ve run out will cost you unnecessarily.
If you’re not planning to cloth diaper you might want to start shopping sales and stocking diapers in various sizes.
Pro Tip: Stock up on larger sizes if you can. Babies and toddlers tend to stay in size 4s and higher for the longest amount of time. So, stocking up on diapers in sizes 4, 5 and 6 is probably the best way to save on the cost of diapers in the long-run.
You might also find helpful: How to Build a Stockpile and Save Thousands in The Process
8. Remember that baby doesn’t know the difference
As a parent, I know that I want to give my little the absolute best in life.
Early on I realized that the best doesn’t necessarily have to take the form of designer clothes, expensive toys and the latest and greatest in baby and toddler gear.
At the end of the day, my kiddo is well cared for, engaged and enjoying life.
She loves playing with her “new” used toys and enjoys her stroller rides (in a second hand stroller) immensely.
She doesn’t care whether or not her clothes have been worn before, her toys have been played with before or if her high chair has been eaten in before.
Creating a budget for baby involves a little self-reflection about whether the expensive items that can truly bust your budget are actually for your baby or more for you.
Because, babies really do not know the difference.
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Stockpiling diapers and wipes was a HUGE help for us with all three babies. Even now that my kids are 7, 5, and 1, I continue to buy clothes on clearance at the end of the season to put away for next year. I would add that, if possible, say “yes” when friends or family offer to throw a shower. I thought it was a little silly for our third, but since coworkers wanted to “sprinkle” us, we said yes, and we got a TON of diapers and wipes.
Yes! This is great advice! I think saying yes to any freebies is great! Moms are really great about offering up their gear and clothes when they don’t need them anymore right! Always say YES! ?