01 Jun

100 Must Read Money Saving Tips for New Parents

Whether you are a single parent or sharing the joys of parenthood with your other half tagging each other like a wrestling match as you tackle the 18th poo stained nappy… looking after a baby is hard work. Granted the joys of seeing their goofy little faces melts away all the stress and makes it all worth it! However we’ve got to keep it real and admit that babies can break us financially! Not only do they require attention all day everyday… they also use up all your money! So we’ve put together a little comprehensive guide to help mums and dads save a few pennies!

Nappies

So what is so great about using ‘real nappies’ against disposable one? They are eco-friendly so that is a win win situation but what are the other pluses…

Here are the financial pros and money saving tips for real nappies

*You don’t need to buy nappy sacks

*You can recycle them for your future kids! *Wash them on a low temperature to improve the longevity of the nappies

*You can try before you buy! Before you commit to going with the loin cloths check out http://www.babykind.co.uk/nappytrial.htm#hire and be sure to investigate council run incentives.

But what about disposable nappies I hear you cry…

*Brand disposables are cheaper than branded real nappies

*Check special offers online and in stores for sales and think about buying in bulk. A baby is not going to stop soiling themselves so you are going to need a good supply!

*Avoid buying expensive baby wipes when you can buy cloths and use warm water at a cheaper cost.

*Avoid unnecessarily lathering your child in creams as babies very rarely need these and the cost soon adds to your weekly shop.

Feeding

A baby needs to eat and many kids eat A LOT! Keeping up with their dietary requirements can be confusing, exhausting and expensive. Do you bottle feed or breast feed? And which method is more pricey? Jar food or delicious homemade goodness? The debate will forever continue!

Breast v Bottle

Breast is initially cheaper as the mother already has the supply of milk on tap! There are other pros and cons and here are our top tips on the big milk debate!

*Try avoid buying nursing shirts and you can easily use a regular tank top when breast feeding.

*Buy own brand lady pads over nipple pads are much cheaper and they do the same job!

*If you are pumping try to learn to ‘hand express’ as this can save you a few pennies and is kown to not only be a cheaper option but also it’s less painful and better for milk production.

*Look into buying second hand pumps. Granted this may freak some mothers out but again… it’ll save you some pounds over a brand new one.

*Bottle feeding costs a lot more money with accessories such as bottles, teats, bottle warmer and steriliser.

*Check out Health Start Schemes as you could be entitled to receiving free formula

*Take advantage of the formula given in hospitals when you leave. Smash and grab!

*Use sterilisation tablets when bottle feeding which is cheaper than steamers. Make sure you do your homework for the best price out there all the same!

Jar Food Vs Homemade Food

With the nutrition of children being ever important, you need to be on the mark with what you are putting into your babies. Which option is healthier, tastier, less time consuming and ultimately cheaper…

*Baby food in the little jars in supermarkets are more expensive than obviously buying your own veg and blending this yourself. However you need to weigh up convenience over effort.

*Measure out all ingredients if you are making your own foods for your baby to reduce the waste. But also remember that most foods will freeze so you can always make in bulk and store for the next feeding time.

*Recycle baby food jars and sterilise so you can use these as containers when you are out and about.

*Only serve the required amount by using freezer trays so you can measure out the correct serving each time.

*Baby rice is just simply grounded regular rice, so to save on cost and if you have a coffee blender, then grind yourself!

*Another alternative to saving costs on buying pureed foods is to kind of skip this stage known as ‘Baby Led Weaning’. This gets your baby eating solids far more quickly. If you’re happy with ignoring the fact that the child may choke… then do it!

*Avoid buying baby specific juices and opt for 100% juice only.

*Think about diluting any juices to stretch the drink and save you money as well as reducing the effects of sugary liquids on your baby’s teeth. Clothing

No you can’t just allow your baby to be naked all the time! Well you can but clothes would be nice and a lot warmer! This is a big issue finance wise especially if you think about how quickly they grow making the new clothes redundant after all of 21 seconds! So how can we bring the costs down…

*Avoid buying clothes for the first 6 months unless this is a necessity as you are usually overwhelmed with gifts from friends and family. If your loved ones insist on presents then you can make up a list so you have most outfits covered for. Winner!

*Do not turn your nose up at hand me downs! If you are friends with someone who has kids slightly older than your bambino then 9 times out of 10 they will be delighted to get rid of their baby clothes. Again… free clothing!

*Shoes are pointless! Yes they may look pretty and oh so cute… but babies cannot walk until they’re about 1 so quit buying the tiny tiny shoes!

*To save money on another pointless buy, be sure to buy clothes that are too big. Babies will always grow into them.

*Head down to your local car boot sales and charity shops. It’s amazing what you can find not just clothing but an Aladdin’s cave of toys too!

*Latch onto a buddy who loves to knit! Or take advantage of old people! They love a good knitting session! I’m sure they could bang out a fab new cardigan for your little one!

*Organise a baby swap event at your local community centre or in your home. Invite fellow mothers and fathers and exchange all your unwanted items for new much needed ones. Did I hear you say free?!

*Do not get over excited and rip tags of clothes so hastily. Make sure you check all clothing fits beforehand and keep hold of receipts.

Childcare

Child support is super important especially if you are a single parent family. Childcare is an expense which even some cannot afford but here are a few ways to try and rein in the costs for a much needed service.

*Check out government run schemes and vouchers to help with the costs as well as tax credits.

*Rope in all your nearest and dearests like friends and family to look after the kids. Dress it up as spending good quality time with the babies if needs be! Guilt is always a winne!

*Look into free baby groups in and around you area

*Speak to other mums and dads in your locality to perhaps work out a rota and schedule for looking after the kids whilst you are at work.

*Speak to your employer regarding childcare as you may be entitled to not only benefits as well as obtaining an understanding regarding flexible working hours.

*’Rent a student’ Call into your local university or college for childcare students who could help at a much lower rate than normal.

Toys

Entertaining children is not only hard work but also super pricey trying to keep on top of all the new fads on the market. However you do not have to go OTT on the pound coins to keep your child and your bank balance happy!

*Check out charity shops and car boot sales. You are bound to find little gems here for low prices if you have a little patience.

*New born babies cannot appreciate massively over expensive toys so quit trying to bankrupt yourself! You will also be given presents for the child so take advantage of the freebies until your baby is old enough to actually care!

*If you are creative enough then making your own toys is a sure fire way to keep the costs down and adds that special touch. It’s funny how much fun and entertainment an empty bottle filled with rice grains can create for one child!

*Avoid buying ridiculous over expensive ‘essentials’ which are not necessary. Bouncy seats… pointless!

Essential items Vs Non-essential items

You will be pelted with so much information and advice from everyone around you, books, TV and the little old lady on the bus! However you need to get to grips with what you really need and what are just frivolous novelty items that allow you to flush more money down the toilet!

*We can not stress second hand goods enough. If you are minted then sure buy buy buy until your hearts content, but if you have a little bit of common sense then take a trip to charity shops or shop online like ebay for example to find what you need at cheaper prices. Also check out such sites like www.mymummyandme.co.uk

*Look into buying a car seat that can go straight into pushchairs and avoid purchasing a pushchair attachment.

*Check out 2 in 1 pushchairs that have adjustable seats as this may last longer for you

*Take advantage of big name baby superstores when buying all your kit and if you spend a fortune then look into having a few extras thrown in like rain covers, umbrellas and shopping hooks. Cheeky… no… just financially creative!

*Try and ignore the ned for a stroller and look to get a baby carrier. These are much cheaper.

*Steralisers maybe fairly low tech but super cheap. Common sense will prevail!

*Baby changing tables are not a necessity. Any surface will suffice!

*A baby bath tub is another waste of money. Your young one won’t be in it for long my friends!

*Baby monitors are handy for that extra peace of mind but some parents can do without and these little gadgets are pricey so think before you splurge!

The Nursery

Getting all giddy about decorating the new baby room is something all parents love to get involved in! Just be wary on over spending on unnecessary bits and bobs… easier said than done right!

*One of our top tips for decking out the new nursery is to choose some fabric for the curtains and bedding for example. This is much cheaper than buying them separately and it will all be nicely matching!

*Buy low wattage energy saving lamps. This is a must!

*Purchase cotbeds as it will double up as a bed for when your baby grows into a bigger baby!

*If you are comfortable enough then you can look into forgetting about Moses baskets and go straight for a cot. As long as the baby is positioned correctly then all should be fine.

Extra Money Saving Tips You Should Know

Here are just some other bits of info we thought we would share and help you in the long run!

*Check out baby incentive schemes from big stores like Sainsburys and Asda

*Always ALWAYS look for voucher codes and coupons *Sort out your impulse buys! Take a level headed friend with you when out shopping so they can rein in your ridiculous buys!

*Review purchases on great sites such as www.babyexpert.com and www.babyworld.co.uk before you buy.

*Speak to other mums and dads for their advice. Don’t take what they say as gospel but it’s always good to share recommendations and tips of the trade!

*Buy in bulk! Especially if essential items like cotton wool or baby formulas are on special offer.

*You don’t have to purchase fancy Mei Tai’s when you can make your own.

*Bathing your wee bambino in just warm water without any other liquids is completely fine and not always needed.

*Reap the rewards of hosting a baby shower before the birth! These are super fun and you get LOADS of presents! Winner!

*Look into free days out to parks and attractions as your child is not going to care how much you spent as long as they are entertained!

*Glossy baby magazines can be costly. If you are seeking information then use the internet! Google and YouTube work out to be extremely resourceful as well as parenting blogs.

If you have any other tips to share, then let us know and we can add them to the ever long tip list!