Do you have a little one on the way or recently welcomed your baby home? Hopefully, you received lots of love and support at the baby shower. However, expenses will continue to roll in beyond those initial gifts. While a baby is a very joyous occasion, consumer debt is not. It can become a real problem early on. Use these baby budget savings tips to help your family’s expenses stay low.
To avoid debt, use these baby budget savings tips.
3 Baby Budget Savings Tips
Set Aside Money Every Month Before & After the Baby Arrives
The first of the baby budget savings tips is about the actual budget. Your new baby (or babies!) will be a part of your life from here on out. Eventually, you will run out of the free diapers, clothes and toys you received at the baby shower. Savings a little each month in the budget can help prepare for future expenses. This is even more true if you are using formula and disposable diapers.
How much should you budget? It may be $50-$200. If mama is nursing and using cloth diapers, $50 will probably be sufficient. However, if you need formula and disposable diapers, you may need $200. Think through what supplies you will using day-to-day plus all the expenses to come when calculating the dollar amount for your family. This can be adjusted as necessary.
Buy Used or Swap Toys, Clothing & Other Baby Gear
Baby stuff is cute and comes at a premium. The latest and greatest can easily cause you to rack up too much debt if you aren’t careful. Buying used products can drastically reduce your costs. Between yard sales, thrift stores, Craigslist and baby consignment shops, there is a whole market out there waiting for you. Don’t forget your own network of friends and neighbors. You may have a local mom group in your area that you can connect to on Facebook that is centered around trading and selling kids stuff. Keep an eye on siblings or friends that are ahead of you. They may be able to give you their supplies. It’s also a good idea to look for toys that will get a lot of use by your child. Ask around to see what other moms have experienced.
Consider Gender Neutral Items: Clothing, Sheets, Toys & More
The more gender neutral you can buy, the better! I’m not saying stay away from all very feminine or masculine items. However, it really helps to have a transitional wardrobe as well as other baby supplies to use on either gender. This includes crib sheets, changing pad covers, bibs, pacifiers, toys, etc.
These baby budget savings tips can hopefully guide your purchases and current budgeting to best prepare for your bundle of joy.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
