5 Money Saving Tips for New Moms

New moms have a lot on their plates. It’s a special time to bond with your child, but also a time full of responsibility and “learning the ropes” of motherhood. Unfortunately, it can also be an expensive phase as the baby has lots of needs and you have to navigate the realm of baby products, determining which costs are worth it. The good news is that there are some very basic tips that can lead to incredible savings. Here are just a few.

Think ahead when buying clothing

Baby clothes can be expensive, and since they are so cute, it is tempting to buy a bunch up front. When buying clothing for your infants, think to the future. First of all, do you plan on having more children? If so, do not get everything in one gender. There is no way of knowing what your next child will be, and buying unisex clothing now can save you outrageous amounts of money later.

Also, do not buy large amounts of clothing in advance. You never know what size your baby will be in three months. You may think it is a great idea to stock up on summer dresses while they are still on sale, but infants have growth spurts sporadically, and some babies skip sizes altogether. Buy one summer dress now, not ten. That way, if your baby grows, you won’t have large piles of clothing that he or she never got to wear.

Try items before you make big purchases

As new mothers, we like to be prepared. We stock up on supplies and try to avoid ever having that moment of panic where we need something quickly that we do not have in the house. However, this can lead to us wasting money and buying things preemptively. For example, do not buy a huge pack of fifteen bottles when you are not even sure yet whether your infant will take a bottle (or that type of bottle). Do not buy a large case of diapers from Costco before you know if that brand leaks during the night. Do not buy a $400 stroller when you haven’t given it a test drive or spoken to someone else who owns it.

Subscribe to baby food companies’ email lists

Join newsletter lists for companies like Gerber. They often send out coupons, and you can save large amounts of money over time. Coupons often come in the mail as well. Keep an eye out for these; sometimes you can get buy one get one free coupons, or spend $50 and get $5 off. These will make a big difference in the long run.

Buy in bulk

I don’t mean to sound contradictory, but once you do know which products work, there are certain things that are helpful to buy in bulk. Baby food, diapers, and formula are three things that can be very helpful to get cases of at places like Costco. However, just keep in mind that babies grow, so do not buy so many diapers that you need to bump up a size and still have a hundred smaller diapers left.

Hand-Me-Downs

Make use of hand-me-downs. If you have friends or family who are finished having children, accept their offers for hand-me-downs. Infants need an expansive closet of clothes. Think of how many times a day you change outfits due to spit-ups, baby food, or a leaky diaper. Hand-me-downs are a great way to save money and fill up the closets!

Motherhood is a blessing, but it also can be expensive. Rather than being overwhelmed, find small ways to save. These tips are basic, but will help you down the right path. Once you adopt this sort of saving mentality, it will stick with you for the long-term. Hopefully, you’ll find that raising a child can be cheaper than you think.

One final tip is simply to get your finances is order. Do you need a better budget? What about your credit cards–are they paid off? Financial stability will make motherhood much easier and allow you to do more for your family. We can help. Consider working with Clearpoint in a free credit counseling session, and we will help you make a plan to work toward your financial goals.

Emilie is the brains, the brawn, and the beauty behind She Does Better, inspiring millennial women to live financially, physically, and professionally fit lives. She writes about overcoming debt, while balancing trying to eat healthy, stay fit, and have a little fun along the way. Read more about her journey here.

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