Author: Ravonda Sanders
Do you remember the moment you found out you were pregnant?
I was in New Orleans for the Essence Festival living it up with my husband. On our last night there I just felt like I needed to take a test. Something felt off. Lo and behold I was pregnant! After a month or so and the excitement died down a little, reality started to set in!
I was looking at EVERYTHING baby related, and I quickly learned that having a baby was gonna cost some serious money! It reminded me of when I got married; how everything with the word "wedding" attached to it seemed extremely overpriced. A similar feeling came whenever I saw the word, baby.
The bargain shopper in me realized my frugal way of thinking would definitely have to transition into mom life. It was tough though. I mean, it's my first baby! I wanted to buy the best of the best. And don't even get me started on the insane amount of cute baby girl clothes there are now. However, I'm 10 months in and I think I've got a good handle on finding the best baby deals for my budget. Let me share a few tips that have saved my household a lot of money.
Diapers:
So I was blessed to have enough diapers from my baby shower to last me about 6 months. Up until then I really didn't pay any attention to how much diapers actually cost; nor did I realize that the Pampers brand we were using was the most expensive. After some research, I decided to try Target's Up & Up diapers and I love them (like I need another reason to love Target). Not only are they super affordable, but my daughter didn't have any issues with these. Be sure to download the Target app if you try these. They occasionally have coupons to use on diapers and wipes.
Clothing/Gear:
If you're like me then you have no problem buying used clothing. My Mom believes that her precious granddaughter should only be wearing new clothing. Sorry, Mom! The reality is most of the time I shop at Once Upon A Child. They have gently used clothing that doesn't look worn from all types of brands. I love it when I find stuff from Zara there! I've also shopped there for a bassinet, baby jumper, and a high chair all for a fraction of the price I would pay buying new.
Formula:
Now it took me a while to look for ways to save on formula. I was dealing with some mom guilt after I stopped breastfeeding, and I thought buying the most expensive formula would help with that. It's so easy to beat yourself. For my own mental health, I had to let that go. Let go of the guilt. My daughter is healthy and that's all that matters. She's been using the Sam's Club version of Similac Pro-Advance for about 3 months, and we've had no issues. The price is about 1/4 of what we were paying before! No stomach issues, diapers have been the same, and she's growing like she should be. It was an easy and simple transition.
Kid-Friendly Activities:
I always say, if it's free it's for me. Being in the Houston area, there's always tons of stuff to do for kids. I like to take advantage of free admission days at places like the zoo and the children's museum. Another great option is the library where they not only have weekly baby classes, but lots of books to check out for the kids.
As you can see, with a little effort it's possible to save in so many ways. I'm always looking for deals, so let me know in the comments how you guys save money with your little ones!
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