New parents have so many new things to worry about. Having to pay off a payday loan shouldn’t be one of them. A new baby can add a lot of expense to a household. Fortunately, there are many ways you can save if you are careful and diligent.
Get as much as you can secondhand. This means furniture, clothes and toys. It’s not a good idea to get a car seat secondhand because it is a safety device, However, you can ask family and friends for things like a crib, changing table, baby clothes and toys. If they’re unwilling to give these to you, you can probably buy them for far less than you would elsewhere.
Whatever you can’t get from family and friends, you can get used at other places. Check out local yard sales first before checking out stores that sell used furniture, clothes and toys.
New mothers will often choose to breastfeed because of the health benefits for the baby. However, they may not think about how much they are saving on the cost of formula. Breastfeeding isn’t exactly free due to the cost of pumping and clothing needs for the mother, but it is far cheaper than the typical $1,500 a month that is spent on formula for one baby.
If you need to pump when at work, save on the cost of the pump by borrowing one from a friend or renting one. You’ll need to purchase your own plastic attachments for sanitary reasons.
Keep a number, email address or website URL of a free lactation consultant handy. Paying for a professional lactation consultant can be expensive and unnecessary when many hospitals and clinics offer free access to breastfeeding advice.
You also can save money by using cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers. Cloth diapers can be washed and used over and over. For the baby’s first six months, you will want to plan on using about a dozen diapers per day. How many cloth diapers you need depends on how often you plan on washing them.
If you like the convenience of disposable diapers when you are away from home, you can still save on diapers by using cloth at home.
When you do buy disposables, buy the largest box possible to save up to 40 percent per diaper. Also, go with generic brands. The picture on the name brand might be cuter, but the diapers are basically the same regardless of brand.
Before the baby arrives, sign up for a free baby registry so your friends and family can purchase what you need.
When you get ready to go home from the hospital, ask the nurse if you can take home the supplies in the cabinet underneath the baby’s rolling bassinet. Most hospitals will allow you to take these home, which can include diapers, wipes, diaper rash ointment, and a nasal aspirator. These can help save you money while trying to get settled with the new baby.
After the baby is born, don’t forget to adjust the deductions from your paycheck to include your new dependent. Also, if your income is not low enough for you to qualify for assistance with health insurance through the state, it may be low enough for your child to qualify. If this is the case, you’ll get a small premium for comprehensive health insurance.
If you are struggling to avoid a payday loan or pay off one, always keep in mind how you can save when making decisions regarding your child. You may be surprised just how much you can save each month.