10 Practical Ways of Saving Money on Baby Supplies
Becoming a parent is a truly wonderful experience, and it transcends almost anything else you will do in your life. It seems unfitting to think about money at such times, but most of us simply cannot afford not to. Becoming a new parent will cost you money, whether you like it or not.
However, with some simple approaches, it does not have to be hard to save money on essential baby items. Here are ten surprising ways to save money on baby stuff:
1. Presents
People will want to buy gifts for your new baby, which is brilliant. However, in nearly all cases, people will not really know what to get, especially if they are not parents themselves. So why not set the agenda by making suggestions?
“Cuddly toys may look great, but what good are 50 of those? Instead, ask people to get you practical items such as a baby toiletry set, or baby clothes,” says Tracey Levitt, a lifestyle blogger at Academized. “These items are essential when you have a little person in the house, and you will be so much more grateful for them than stuff” which ends up becoming clutter under your feet.
2. Beg and Borrow
There is an idea that all baby stuff has to be new. Why? Babies grow out of clothes quicker than most of us get through a box of breakfast cereal, meaning that most second-hand clothing has been worn half a dozen times at most. In fact, many baby clothes you find in thrift stores have not been worn at all. Actively ask for hand-me-downs (a lot of people will offer them). Then, accept them gladly and graciously.
3. Use Store-brand Products
The well-known brand names are often more than double the price of the store brand alternatives. You will find serious savings by shopping this way.
4. Go to Baby Fairs
Attending these types of events is a great way to get free samples of essential items. You will return home armed with all manner of useful baby essentials that you did not pay a dime for, which is the whole objective here.
5. Look for Sale Items
Never buy anything at full price. Parents get caught when they have to buy items at the last minute. However, thinking in advance about what you might need will save you a fortune in the long run. Avoid buying from individual pharmacies, and shop online where possible.
6. Can you Share Products?
Organic, toxin-free baby products are expensive. And of course, you do not want to use alternatives for your precious one. Instead, share those products yourself, so that way you are not buying two lots of everything. There is no reason why you cannot use the baby versions. How much hair does your baby have, after all?
7. Avoid Food Pouches Where Possible
Food pouches are useful when you are on the go, but can very easily be replicated by cooking up your own batches of organic vegetables and then freezing for when required. In this way, you will save yourself a fortune, and it is much more environmentally friendly as you are not going through all that packaging.
8. Be Ruthless With What You Do Not Need
Many parents like to hang on to their baby’s items for memories. That is a great and noble thought! However, be selective about what you want to keep. Consider getting rid of everything else by selling it on second-hand online sites.
“You’ll be surprised how much you can make back by selling things as soon as you have finished with them. You’ll just need to try and keep things relatively clean as you go along, which is no easy task, but it will be well worth it in the long run,” says Sheila Brands, a writer at PaperFellows.
9. Check What Is Covered By Your Insurance
You may be surprised what your health insurance covers when it comes to baby essentials, so make sure you check with your provider to see what expenses you can claim if there are any.
10. Go Down the Reusable Route
We have been brainwashed into thinking that the throwaway route is the best one to take, as it involves the smallest initial cost. However, costs soon begin to stack up when you are replacing these items continuously, and the amount of waste it creates is also horrendous. So, think about going down the reusable route, as it will definitely save you money in the long term.
These are just some great initial ideas put forward by existing parents to help you save in those initial months of having a new baby. You will want your little one to have the best, of course, but taking these approaches does not mean compromising on quality. These are just smart parenting tips you might be too consumed to think of the first-time round.