Congratulations on your new little one! Whether your baby is already in your arms or the moment is just drawing near, we’re pretty sure that you’ve noticed a significant expense already.
Having a child is one of the most expensive things that the vast majority of people do on a regular basis. Not only are the hospital bills on the high side, but you have to outfit a whole new human being with everything they need to survive in the world!
Let’s take a look at when it’s best to buy for your brand new adventure.
Furniture Savings
When looking for furniture, we strongly recommend that you do not look at thrift shops and yardsales. There are too many recalls with baby furniture that get overlooked by well-meaning people trying to help out new parents. If you do decide to go with a yardsale, a thrift shop or any other second hand measure, make sure you check the serial numbers on the piece of furniture against a search engine before you buy it
What we do recommend is shopping for furniture on holiday weekends. This includes pre-shopping if you’re trying to get pregnant and haven’t yet. If Black Friday is coming up and you’re planning to have a little one within the next year, this may be one of your best times to go ahead and pull the trigger. Most baby stores are incredibly sympathetic if, for some reason, your plans change or you’re unable to get pregnant even after the return date runs out. Don’t expect them to take things back after an entire year, but most are willing to work with you for a month or two.
When to Buy Clothes
Purchase baby clothes as they go out of season and be reasonable. Your newborn does not need 75 outfits, because it’s very likely that they will outgrow those outfits long before you get through them. Babies grow incredibly fast and while it’s tempting to get something new for every day of the week, remember that you’re in this for the long haul. Your two year old will grow a bit more slowly and get much more wear out of that frilly dress than your two month old can.
If you are pregnant in February, purchase sweaters and jackets for your November or December baby right around March or April, when stores are clearing out that kind of merchandise. Try to find coupons for these stores during Easter or Spring sales to make the savings even more impressive.
Baby Food vs Your Blender
As your little one gets older, you’ll see baby food everywhere. This is quick, pre-made food that is ideal for tired moms and dads. After all, the last thing you want is one more dish to wash- right?
Let’s be real; those carrots in the baby food jar are just some carrots and water pureed. You can easily boil some carrots down and mash them up with a potato masher. 10 baby carrots are a lot cheaper than 3 jars of baby food carrots. Make your own meals for your babies and save some serious dough.