Prepare your finances before your baby arrives with these money-saving
Babies are expensive. Whether you’re a parent to be, or you already have a house filled with little ones, you’ll appreciate how much of your monthly wage is really spent on keeping your children fed, clothed and secure.
Therefore, saving as much as possible in the months leading up to your latest arrival is a must. Even the smallest of savings can make a big difference, which means your dream pushchair, crib or car seat is much more financially viable. You can read more about Financial planning for your family here.
Here we’ll take a look at how you can prepare your finances before your baby arrives with these money-saving tips.
Look at your current broadband package
Broadband and access to the internet are considered a necessity of modern life. It’s deemed a fundamental requirement much like your water, gas and electricity supply. So, finding the best deal possible just makes sense! Reducing the cost of your broadband and finding a better package, with improved speeds is much better for your bank balance and your baby fund!
Don’t be afraid to shop second hand
Just a few years ago, there was a real stigma around shopping second hand or even shopping at certain stores. Fast forward to today and everyone is looking for a bargain and eager to show off their latest savings! When you have a baby on the way, you can dramatically cut the costs of items such as breast pumps, toys, or even items such as baby gates, playpens, bottle warmers and other essentials simply by shopping second hand online or on your high street.
Remember: Always buy items such as car seats brand new. This ensures they’re not damaged and they adhere to the latest in safety regulations.
Your maternity wardrobe
As your baby bump begins to grow and your body starts to change, so will your wardrobe. Maternity clothing can be quite expensive, however spending large amounts of money on clothes you’ll only wear for a year at the most is an expense you really don’t need right now. Consider purchasing cheap essentials such as leggings and stretch vest tops and shirts at cheaper clothing outlets. They’ll comfortably stretch and adapt to your growing bump and bust. Alternatively, you can purchase lots of second-hand maternity bundles online that have barely been worn!
Return all those unwanted gifts
If you’ve been gifted bottles but then decide to breastfeed, gifted blue baby vests and had a girl, or you’ve been double gifted other items – don’t hang onto them to save face, return them to the store, get the money back or swap them for something you really need. Explain the situation to your generous friend or loved one and they’ll understand. They’d much rather gift you something that you’ll actually use!
Hold onto those samples
As a mum to be and a new parent, you’ll be given lots of free samples, from washing detergent to milk formula, vouchers for family photoshoots and money off prams and other purchases. Don’t be tempted to throw them out, hold onto them instead. You could save a small fortune!
If you would like to speak to your local financial advisor, why not check out our directory?
Carla is the founder of MyBump2Baby. Carla has a huge passion for linking together small businesses and growing families. Carla’s humorous, non-filtered honesty has won the hearts of thousands of parents throughout the UK.
She has previously written for the Metro and made appearances on BBC News, BBC 5 live, LBC etc. Carla is a finalist for Blogger of the Year award with Simply Ladies inc. Carla is also the host of the popular Fifty Shades of Motherhood podcast and The MyBump2Baby Expert podcast.
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