As a Mum of four I know all too well that it’s not cheap preparing for a new baby, and when our surprise baby 4 came along I was shocked at how much more expensive things were than with my older children. It was also very annoying having to buy things we’d passed on to other people or sold years ago! However, I have also learned that there are lots of easy ways to save money along the way, and also many, many items that people buy and never use. I have most definitely been guilty of that a LOT over the years. There was the light up, vibrating chair that made my first baby cry, the baby seat that my littlest wouldn’t go near and many plastic toys that were only played with a few times and then sent to the charity shop.
Top tips for saving money when preparing for a new baby
Cashback
Unless you buy everything second hand, you’ll have to buy certain items from shops. Cashback sites are a brilliant way to save money without realising. If you’re buying big items like nursery furniture, prams and carseats you’ll be surprised at how fast it adds up.
Shops that have reward points are also good to use, as these add up quickly too if you’re buying things like nappies and wipes regularly.
Wait for a Sale
If you can wait for a sale, definitely don’t rush. There are often bundle offers on travel systems and furniture too, so it’s definitely worth waiting for a good deal. One of my top tips is to buy clothes for the following year. So in the summer sale, buy clothes for next summer. Another idea is to use a baby budgeting planning guide so you do small amounts of planning and buying every few weeks.
Stocking up on special offer items you know will get used is also a great idea, as long as you have the space to store them. I recently had a very, very large pile of nappies stacked next to the babies cot, which wasn’t ideal!
Check out local selling groups
You can often pick up huge bargains from local selling groups, I have bought and sold stuff that’s been barely used. It’s a great way to buy an expensive item at a massively reduced cost. Things like the plastic jumping stations are great to buy second hand as they are hugely expensive brand new, don’t always get used very much and can easily be cleaned.
Budget, Budget, Budget
Remember only spend what you can afford. The baby doesn’t care what type of pram he/she has or what their room looks like. Save up for the non essential luxury items and only buy them if you have the money. I have bought expensive light up, vibrating baby chairs and much cheaper versions. Sometimes simpler is better.
Focus on the essentials
Buy essential items first and luxury items last once you know how much having a baby is going to add to your weekly bills.
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