Having a Baby Doesn't Have to Cost $7,205
Last Updated on Thursday, 28 July 2011 12:28 Written by Jenny Wednesday, 27 July 2011 15:38
Today I had the pleasure of sharing with moms some tips on how to save money on baby and kid stuff. I love going on KWGN-TV and meeting with the producer (who is so good at her job and at keeping things running smoothly) and chatting up with Angie Austin (who has three little ones at home - can you believe it??)
I'd like to share with you the video of today's segment as well as share some of the tips I shared on-air this morning:
Tip #1: Breastfeed
Breastfeeding is a must if you're a mom on a budget - and it's good for baby and mom's health too. If you breastfeed, you'll save $1,600 during the first year of baby's life - yes, $1,600! To be fair you'll need a few supplies (no expensive formula though) - like a breast pump, a Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bra, nursing pads from Bamboobies and a good nursing bra too. All these products can be bought at a wonderful Denver store owned by a lactation consultant called Bosom Buddies (they have an online store too - check it out!).
Tip #2: Cloth Diaper
Cloth diapering can save you thousands and thousands - really! Did you know that the average baby will go through 2,300 diaper changes in the first year of life? At about $0.23 per diaper (and times that by three years), that’s about $1,500 spent on throw-away diapers for three years. For about $400, you can buy about 20 modern cloth diapers from FuzziBunz and detergent from Rockin' Green. All these great products can be purchased at a wonderful little cloth diaper store called Eco-politan in Denver.
The authors of Baby Bargains (over 700,000 copies sold!) say the startup costs to having a baby is $7,205 for first year, which includes nursery, diapers, baby food, gear, car seats, etc. It doen’t include medical expenses, child care, college, etc. though. BUT, if you follow the advice in this book, the authors say you will save about $3,000 or 40% off your budget for that first year! It's worth the $20 to buy the book - don't you think?!?
Tip #4. Buy Products that Grow with Baby
One thing that the authors of Baby Bargains recommend is buying good, safe products, not the most expensive products. Your baby won’t care if her crib is $1000 or $100. A great bargain crib is the Lauren crib from beloved baby brand, Graco. This crib converts from a crib to a toddler bed. When your baby is ready for a big kid bed, use the headboard from this crib on any twin mattress/box set and voila, your kid is set with a comfy bed until he leaves for college!
Tip # 5. Employ Cooking Tricks
OK, you know the drill. You buy tons of fresh veggies and your kids don't eat them and you end up just throwing them away. Well, there is a nutritious solution for picky eaters - Choosy Children. Sprinkle a little of this veggie dust on your kids' favorite meals and they won't know you sneaked in a little nutrion and love. Choose from spinanch and carrot dried veggie powders s and shave hundreds off your grocery bill each year. It tastes pretty good too!
So there you have it - five tips about how to save money when you have kids and babies to contend with. What was the #1 money-saving tip for you?
