Babies are expensive! There's no doubt about it! It's one of those things (like weddings) where if you stick 'baby' on the front of something the price usually doubles.
It can be super frustrating, especially during a time that is already so daunting.
A lot of us, myself included, don't really think about money when trying for a baby. Money worries usually arise halfway through pregnancy, around the time when sh*t starts to get real and you start preparing for your new arrival.
I understand how worrying it can be, I've been there first hand! Thankfully for my bank balance, I pride myself on my savviness. And thankfully for you, I've got 5 ways to help you save money when preparing for a new baby.
Ways to save money when preparing for a new baby
Do you really need it?
During pregnancy, we're conditioned to believe there are umpteen things we need to buy for our unborn babies in order to be prepared for parenthood. The market for baby-related products is huge and rife with goods we don't really need.
Of course, everybody's situations are different, but for me, there were various Items we were pointed towards which we didn't need at all. A changing table for example. This was promoted to us as it matched the cot we'd decided to buy, but in reality, we already had two separate changing mats at home. One for upstairs, the other for downstairs (best tip ever btw). Baby furniture isn't cheap and this would have meant us forking out an extra £170 on top of the large amount of money we'd already spent.
Sure, it's nice to have nice things, but sometimes it's best to ask yourself 'is it something you really need?'
Your questions answered live by senior midwife Louise Broadbridge. A workshop covering what to expect in the early days, coping with morning sickness and planning for your first antenatal appointment.
Think of your pram like a car
This is my ultimate hack for saving money when preparing for a new baby! Are you ready?...
Once you've decided upon a pram to buy (total minefield btw) the best thing you can do for your bank balance is look to buy the previous years model. Think of your pram like a car! It sounds stupid, but it's the best thing we could have done!
We decided on the Uppababy Cruz for our first daughter which retails at £740, which shockingly is relatively cheap for a pram. We scoured the internet for a cheap deal (as you do) and ended up hitting the jackpot! We'd found the previous year's model for £400, nearly half the price! After researching the two models the only difference was the handle. The newer Uppababy Cruz had a leather handle whereas the years before was foam. A small sacrifice and something which actually didn't bother us at all, to save £340! We couldn't have inputted our card details any quicker!
Shop second hand
Sustainability is a hot topic at the moment. It's no secret that babies aren't the most sustainable of beings, but we can all do our bit by shopping second hand. Great for the environment and also our bank balances!
There are so many different ways you can shop second hand for your little one. Furniture, clothing, toys, books and pushchairs can all be bought second hand. And it's not just for the baby! Things such as maternity clothes can also be bought second hand too. It's worth checking Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Gumtree or my new favourite app, Vinted!
Buy in bulk
There are various items that you're never not going to need for your baby. Nappies and wipes for example can all be much more affordable when bought in bulk. It might not be the biggest saving in the world, but money saved is still money saved! It's also worth noting when different sales and baby events will be coming on as you can usually find bulk buys at a fraction of the price.
Buy transitional pieces
To help save money when preparing for a new baby it's handy to think of transitional pieces and items which can be used right through to toddlerhood, possibly even childhood.
Cotbeds are really great, as instead of buying two separate beds for your little one, they can sleep in the same bed right through to childhood. Not only is this more cost-effective, but it's also less faff too, which is always a winner when it comes to parenting. Along with being able to adjust the mattress height in your cot, the sides can also be removed when your little one's a bit older revealing a toddler bed. My three year old still sleeps in the same bed she used when she was a baby and there's still plenty of growing room in it.
Choosing a travel system is also a great one when it comes to transitional pieces, especially if you can pick up a bargain. Having a pram with a carrycot attachment as well as a toddler seat again is less faff, but will also no doubt save you a bit of money in the long run.
So there are five ways you can save money in preparation for a new baby. Some will save you more than others, however like I say, a saving is still a saving. Every little helps, right?
