Simple Ways to Make Having a Baby Affordable

 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

After accepting my pregnancy, all the adult questions we had been asking needed answers. One that we seemed to continuously circle back to was money. It's no secret that having a baby isn't cheap but they don't have to be expensive either. Here are some clever tips to budget for your baby. 

Making Money Back!

We spend so much money in our lifetime, there has to be a way to make some of it back beside your work income. Though these things seem minimal altogether they can put at least an extra $100 in your pocket by the end of 1 month. The most important thing to remember is that every dollar counts.

Save The Change 

One of the easiest ways to make plenty of money within a couple months is to go back to your younger days and get yourself a piggy bank. Now you don't necessarily have to use a literal piggy bank, you could use a glass jar or a large cup. But the point is that the coins that you let get lost under your car seats, couch cushions, and all the other crevasses add up quicker than you think. It took my boyfriend and me 2 months to make $80 in coins, COINS! It's never too late to start, Alex and I still save our literal pennies to this day because we know that it is worth it in the long run. 

Ten Cents Back

Currently returning your pop cans may seem like a chore because you only get 10 cents a can but that is 10 cents that you are getting back from what you already spent on the entire case. Usually, about a month's worth of cans will add up to 10-20 dollars that are going back into your pocket within 10 minutes. Maybe your immediate family doesn't drink much in returnable but I am sure that someone nearby either family, friends, or neighbors does. And if you are willing to help them out with a task they might not want to deal with then you just made money that you didn't even spend.

Re-sell Your Gently Used 

Before your baby is here try to find your local resale shop. Get familiar with this shop because your little one is going to be in and out of clothes consistently. Donating the clothes that baby has grown out of is great but if you need the money it is worth seeing what the resale shop will give you. Usually, baby resale shops will take more than just clothes, they will also take toys and other baby necessities. If you don't have a resale shop close to you another great way to get rid of what you and your baby no longer need is to use Facebook Market Place, Poshmark, Mercari, Shopify, etc.  

Save Your Receipts!

 Another easy way to make money is to use the mobile app; Fetch Rewards. The app allows you to earn points on receipts, those points can eventually be turned into money through gift cards including visa gift cards. I personally have a pocket in my purse designated to all the receipts and after 2 weeks I scan them all. You can also connect fetch to your amazon account and collect points on those purchases. I have used multiple gift cards from fetch to help save a little money where we can. To give you an extra boost Fetch will reward you 2,000 points just to use my code MD5A1 when setting up your account. 

Start Saving!

Though making money can be helpful, so is saving what you already have. The line "is it really worth it" will be constantly running through your head so below are ways to ease your busy brain. 

Cut Back And Budget

The most obvious solution can be the hardest to carry out. Cutting back on a few unnecessary expenses and budgeting the ones that you need. Now is also the perfect time to start budgeting because you will only have more expenses when your little one is here. This budget planner is hands down my favorite. It helps you budget monthly expenses and it comes in many colors!

Apply For Registries

The main purpose of a baby registry is to help your generous friends and family in getting you exactly what you want or need. But many perks come along with creating your registry. Amazon's Online Registry  offers a welcome box of free baby needs that is valued at around $35. Targets Baby Registry  is a great option because it may be a location your friends and family already shop but also they provide free welcome gifts at the customer service desk to anyone who has started a registry with them. Buy Buy Baby is dedicated solely to babies so their selection is great and means their goody bag is just as great. Do your own research and pick which location/s are perfect for your baby registry. 

Wait To Buy

You're bringing a blessing into the world and so many people are just as stoked as you are. It may be tempting to buy the baby items you need when you see them but seriously WAIT. Wait to get yourself baby items until after your baby shower. People want to help you out and will try their best to check everything off your registry. Once the shower is over with you will need to buy far less than what you would have beforehand. 

Second-Hand Everything 

 Both you and your baby will be going through clothes fairly quick so now is not the time to buy yourself those custom-fit dresses or lululemon pants. The best way to save your money during this time is to use second-hand clothing and baby accessories. You can get great second-hand necessities from donation centers, resale shops, and even family or friends. 

Purchase Convertible Baby Items

There are many options out there when it comes to larger baby items such as bassinets, cribs, strollers, and car seats. No matter what brand and what item you are purchasing you should be looking for a convertible item that will grow with them - saving you money for many years.

Try Breastfeeding 

Breastfeeding comes with many benefits for your baby even if you can only do it for a few months but it is also great for your wallet. Purchasing baby formula for a year can get pricey but what your body naturally produces is completely free. You can save up to $80 a month when breastfeeding. If you do need to formula feed  I recommend Enfamil Formula because of their amazing rewards, discount checks, samples, and much more! Be sure to join the Enfamil Family so you can save money when your little one is here. 

In Conclusion

Hopefully, you can see that although having a baby is an 18-year commitment that can cost you more than imaginable there are helpful habits that can give you an extra step up. Babies don't have to be unaffordable or overwhelming.