Photo by 114bberry
With our upcoming new little bundle of joy plus recent decreased income, we have really been looking into ways to save and be more frugal.
I have just implemented taking inventory, menu planning, and couponing. So far, it is going very well and I can't wait to look into other ways for our family to live more simply and frugally.
One blog post that really caught my eye is Saving Big Money On Your Little Ones
In this post I found many things that I already plan to do, things I want to implement, as well as others that I am really interested to look into more. Here are some of the highlights.
Stick to the Essentials
The first step is to really think about what things are truly essential for babies and young children. Sticking with less baby stuff from the beginning will save you money and save your sanity trying to organize, and store, and clean so much stuff.
Buy Used
Find what you need second hand. There is so much baby stuff out there that can be bought like-new or gently used.
Saving Money on Baby Essentials
Diapers
Use cloth diapers, and one way to ease the cost is to buy used diapers. Not into cloth diapers? You can save lots of money on diapers by using coupons and following sales at big box retailers, drugstores and even online. The idea of elimination communication is intriguing to me, if not mostly for the reason that it would save money.
Wipes
Instead of purchasing the more expensive actual cloth wipes, you can buy thin cotton baby wash cloths from the store and they work great. Another option is to make your own cloth wipes.
Clothing
With a little bit of effort you can save a lot of money by building a complete wardrobe of quality used clothing for your kids. Hand-me-downs are another great option for kids clothes.
Toys, Baby Gear and Other Kids Stuff
For baby items that you will be purchasing new, make sure that you always shop the sales, and use any and all coupons that are available.
Once you have an idea of what your essential items are, keep your eye out for a second hand item that would work for you.
What are your essentials for a new baby? Do you have any money saving tips for new babies and young children?
