Six financial saving tips before pregnancy
Planning and expecting mothers usually do a lot of research to help them be better, more prepared mothers. Having a baby and witnessing the miracle of life is a beautiful experience, but it can also be terrifying, especially the expenses.
Listed below are some financial tips for saving money before the baby arrives:
1. Monitor your budget
Planning a budget requires research; you probably won’t know all your expenses without monitoring your current budget. Collecting receipts is a great way to see where your money is going and to become aware of foolish spending habits.
Once you look at your current expenses, it’s easy to see where a new baby would add to costs. Aside from expenses like diapers and wipes, babies increase the cost of some utilities (e.g. water for baths and bottle washing).
You should also decide whether and when you would need to pay for childcare. You don’t want just anyone watching your little one, and finding a reliable babysitter can be time-consuming and costly.
Perhaps most importantly, make sure you have an emergency fund set aside. Babies come with a lot of unexpected expenses, so it’s best to be prepared for these.
2. Cut back on things you don’t need
If you save your receipts, it’s easier to see what you actually need and what things you could live without.
Making a list of essential and non-essential expenses will help you figure out where you can cut costs. You may find that some necessities like groceries are a better bargain at different outlets than the one you traditionally use.
Buying food from a restaurant instead of preparing meals at home is an example of a non-essential expense. Not only is it healthier to eat food you make at home, but also it can save loads of money.
You can prepare meals and store them away for when you need them, or you can stock your freezer with microwavable meals from the grocery store. Either way, you will save time and money.
You should also consider paying off all the bills that you can before the baby arrives. Pregnant women often underestimate the amount of time and energy they will have left for phone calls and paperwork after the baby arrives.
You’ll also find that you can do without other things like magazine subscriptions or pricey movie rentals. Getting a library card or investing a few dollars in a Netflix subscription is a viable way to save money on home entertainment.
It is true that you will be very busy with your new baby. However, newborns sleep a lot during the first few months, so you will have a lot of time to occupy while your baby sleeps.
3. Work for as long as you can before your due date
Although the last few months of pregnancy are very uncomfortable, you should look for ways to increase your income (or at least maintain it as long as you can).
One of the easiest ways you can make extra money (and prepare your home for your new baby) is by organizing your house.
Chances are, you will stumble across a lot of things you no longer want or need. Then, you can sell the items online, to individuals, or at consignment shops.
Also, if you are currently employed, your employer may allow you to work from home as you’re due date approaches. Some may even consider hiring you for extra projects you can do from home.
4. Start accumulating items early on
Mothers need a few things for themselves as well as their babies during and after the pregnancy.
A healthy pregnancy is characterized by weight gain of at least twenty-five pounds. Your growing baby needs room to grow, so, before your skinny jeans get too tight, you should begin saving and shopping for maternity clothes.
Like most things, maternity clothes are expensive when they’re brand new. But that’s the great thing about places like consignment shops, thrift stores, and garage sales.
You may find gently used baby products at some of these places, and this is true of costlier items like baby beds as well as baby clothes.
More than likely, you know someone who became a mother recently. They may also have some maternity clothes (and baby items) they can let you borrow (or even give you).
In planning for financial expenses, you should also consider the generosity of friends and family. A lot of people have leftovers from their baby just taking up space, and some people just enjoy giving things to people they love.
5. Host a (diaper) baby shower
While everyone does not plan a baby shower, it is a great way to start collecting items for your new baby, especially diapers. After all, diapers are perhaps the biggest expense for parents.
You will be amazed at how much you can save on everything you want and need for your new baby, even if everyone only brings a box of diapers. You may find the pricey bouncer or car seat you had your heart set on underneath some wrapping paper.
6. Consider breastfeeding
A formula could be one of the most expensive things in your baby budget. Women that choose to breastfeed save a lot of money and hassle associated with feeding their babies.
Obviously, the longer you can breastfeed, the more you will save (and the health benefits for both mother and baby are worth mentioning).
Women who plan to breastfeed should consider that there might be difficulties: some babies have trouble latching and some mothers find that they lack the patience or the time necessary for breastfeeding.
If you do plan to breastfeed, you should be committed to the task and discuss breastfeeding with a lactation consultant. They can give you a lot of information and tips on how to breastfeed (like briefly supplementing your breast milk with formula).
Conclusion
You should be committed to finding ways to save money as soon as you learn you are pregnant.
Actively monitoring your budget won’t just help you adapt to having a new baby; it will also help you plan better for the future. Planning is a key factor in decreasing the stress of financing your family.
Hannah Tong is the founder of Omaby.com, a blog dedicated to providing accurate advice to mothers regarding childcare. She loves taking care of her kids and teaching them the right things. She is also enthusiastic and loves sharing her experiences to teach others about how to care for their families’ health. Check the latest article (Is It Safe To Do Yoga While Pregnant?) here.
