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Home › Articles › Preparing for Baby › Raising Baby Without Going Broke

Raising Baby Without Going Broke

Cost-saving Techniques for the First Year

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Dressing Baby
You don't have to buy Baby many clothes at first – you'll most likely receive most of what he needs as gifts. Again, remember that Baby isn't impressed by Gap, Ralph Lauren or Baby Dior. He's perfectly happy in onesies from Wal-Mart.

Before baby is born, you should buy just one outfit for coming home from the hospital. After you see Baby's size (and the size of the pile of presents waiting for you at home), you can buy whatever is still needed. One way to save money is to buy 3-to-6-month sizes; they'll be a little big at first, but you'll be amazed at how quickly Baby grows!

Toys and Strollers
Toys are also budget breakers. You may be tempted to run out and buy one of everything at the baby store, but try to restrain yourself. In the first few weeks of his life, your face is more exciting to Baby than even the most expensive playthings, and you'll probably get lots of toys from friends and family. When Baby is 3 to 4 weeks old, you can evaluate what you've received and see if there is something else Baby really needs.

Here's a surprising truth you probably won't believe until you actually have a baby: Expensive strollers are often more of an inconvenience than they're worth. Picture this: last-minute Christmas shopping. You finally find a parking space at the mall. Now you have to leave Baby in his car seat while you haul the stroller out of the trunk and open it up. Once you get the stroller ready, take the baby (who by now is fussing at having been left alone) and settle him in. Navigate the stroller through the parking lot – watch out for the snowdrifts – and into the mall. Guess what? You can't take the stroller on the conveniently located elevators in the front of the department store. Start making your way to the back where the ancient elevators are. Estimated cost for the stroller: $150 to $300. Estimated aggravation: endless.


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