Thrifty Mommy » baby costs

Save money while bringing up baby

Jennifer Chait — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:24:39 +0000

It’s been estimated that it can take $284,000 to raise a baby to adult hood. That’s a pretty flipping high number. I’m betting you can lower it with some planning. Here are some general tips…

Never tell anyone your baby’s gender-to-be.

Start an emergency fund asap, I mean the second you find out your expecting, if you haven’t already.

Borrow most of your baby items. Regardless of what you may hear, it’s safe to do so.

Talk with an expert about the big issues. A good tax accountant should be able to help you plan for college, get the most tax returns on that baby, and help you plan for future needs.

Skip the baby life insurance, but review your own coverage and your partners to make sure your family is covered if the worst should happen.

Budget smartly for baby toys – this is basically one non-essential that’s money wasted if you go nuts.

Breastfeed – not only is it a HUGE money saver but it’s green too.

Plan ahead (WAY ahead) for maternity leave. Most Americans can’t afford to even take a decent amount of maternity leave, but if you plan you’ll be ahead of the curve.

What else can you think of?

[image via stock.xchng]

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Why siblings are cheaper additions

Jennifer Chait — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:15:29 +0000

Everyone says, “Babies are so expensive.” I don’t totally agree. I also know folks who put off having a second tot due to perceived costs. First of all, babies are less expensive than advertised; not to make them sound like cars, but you can get a good deal on your baby (see the end of this post for tips), and secondly, siblings can be even cheaper than the first baby.

What costs do come up with all kids:

Food + health care + school (if you pay for private) + time (if you consider time is money).

How siblings don’t cost as much as people think:

Can you say, “hand-me-downs”? Hand me downs are free and because babies don’t tend to wear stuff out your gear is likely still in good shape. If you had cloth diaper the first time around, you’ll save even more.

Siblings can share a space. You don’t actually need rooms for everyone, and even if kids have their own space, you can have kids bunk together in winter and turn the heat off in one room. Personally, I did hate sharing a room growing up (in theory) but in reality, my sis and I had a ton of good times, and there’s no hard feelings now.

Free entertainment. I work at home. I have an only child. I am the ONLY person around to entertain my son which can, when he’s fussy, cost me time and money. I pay extra for things like activities with other kids too (when his friends are unavailable). Growing up with two siblings, I had built in entertainment all the time.

More tax breaks!

Kids always come with costs, there’s no way around it, but kids don’t have to be THAT expensive. It’s a matter of choice and smart decision making. Here are some more tips:

In what ways do you think siblings are cheaper than the first baby.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Don’t Buy Items Your Baby Won’t Need

Jennifer Chait — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:00:32 +0000

Babies can cost a lot – in theory. You read plenty of reports that say things like, “It costs X amount to raise a baby” but those numbers aren’t all that accurate in my opinion. If you cut out specific large baby costs you can save loads and raise a baby on the cheap.

Baby items you can ditch to save money:

The crib: Cribs, bassinets, and other sleeping items (sheets, mobiles, music boxes, etc) can all be eliminated by co-sleeping. My son co-slept and went straight from my bed to a futon on the floor (not some waste of cash toddler-sized bed). If you’re worried about co-sleeping consider this – people co-sleep trouble free in most of the world. It’s only in the U.S. and Europe that co-sleeping is frowned upon.

Formula and bottles: Breastfeeding is a huge money saver. Formula can cost $4 a pop, good BPA-free non-toxic bottles will cost you as well. Bottle feeding may also increase other costs like doctor bills (research shows that breastfed babies are usually sick less often).

Jarred baby food and other meal-time accessories: You can make homemade baby food for a fraction of the cost of jarred; plus it’ll taste better. You can ditch bibs and feed your baby sans clothing when at home. You can also skip fancy baby dishes. Some of these dishes are cute, fun, and handy, but other than baby spoons, most are unnecessary.

Don’t cave in on unnecessary or excessive baby items: People buy so much junk for their tots that it’s unbelievable. You don’t need a wipe warmer, a walker, shoes (until way later), a million outfits, or excessive toys. What babies need most are stress-free parents who can spend time with them. Parents with less baby costs can pull off this stress-free life better and the less you buy, the longer you may be able to extend your maternity/paternity leave.

How are you saving money on your little bundle?

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Save on baby gear, clothing, diapers and more

Jennifer Chait — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:00:49 +0000

If you’ve got a little one, you know how expensive they can be. Diapers, clothing, toys, and all of that adds up quickly. If you’d like to save some cash, and learn about the best current baby deals visit Baby Cheapskate.

Baby Cheapskate is a blog run by mama Angie. This mama locates all sorts of nice deals to help out other parents. You’ll see all sorts of posts designed to save you money like…

Visit Baby Cheapskate and start saving a bundle on your little bundle today.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy