Welcome

Top tips for saving money when you have a new baby

You can never be prepared financially for a baby but there are steps you can follow to help you save some money.

Money saving tips ready for your baby

There seem to be millions of things you feel you need to buy ready for your baby, but are they really essential and could you possibly get them cheaper elsewhere?

With a few small steps, you could make some big savings.

Average costs of a new baby

The first step to saving money is to know what the average person spends on their baby, this may vary but this way you can get an idea and plan ahead. Breaking this down this is what you’re approx spends maybe:

  • Clothes- up to £4000
  • Pushchair- up to £400
  • Car seat- up to £300
  • Furniture- up to £1,500
  • Cot and bedding- up to £300
  • Food- up to £6,000
  • Nappies- up to £1,200
  • Childcare- up to £30,000

Have a budget and make a plan

A great way to stop overspending and buying things you don’t actually need is to create a plan and make a list. Monitor your spending habits and see if you are able to cut down on items which you don’t particularly need and save yourself some money.  I would also look out for offers in the shops or online.

Know what you need to buy and not what you want to buy

Don’t go for a trip to Mothercare without a list, you will leave with a trolley full of items that you really didn’t need. Here are some essentials that you’re most definitely going to need to stock up on:

  • Clothes: all in one suits, vests, cardigans, coat or an all in one suit and a hat.
  • Nappies, Nappy sacks, wet wipes and nappy cream.
  • Nursing bras, breast pads, bottles, teats, bottle brushes, steriliser and bibs.
  • A mosses basket or a cot, bedding sheets, a mattress and bedroom furniture.
  • A baby bath or a newborn bath support, towels, baby cleanser and wash.
  • A pushchair with a rain cover and a sunshade.
  • A rear facing car seat and sun blinds.
  • A changing bag with a changing mat.

Though a few of the essentials need to be brought new especially the rear-facing car seat, which must always be brought from a reputable retailer to ensure it is safe and in working condition, Halfords always have offers on, so have a look around different shops and find the best offer. Other items such as clothing can be brought second hand. Ask friends and family if they have anything which their children have grown out of and could be passed down onto you, also try having a look at local sites such as gumtree or facebook pages for bundles of clothing and furniture being sold.

Other ways of saving money are:

  • Buying own brand nappies and wipes instead of well-known brands such as Pampers or Huggies which they charge a lot more money for.
  • Buy items when they are on offer as you will save money
  • Buying before the baby has arrived, add a few items to your shopping basket each week to reduce the overall cost.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.