7 ways to have a baby without going broke!

As all of you know, I am obsessed with saving money and finding good deals, and being a new mom has posed some new problems for me: I am constantly navigating the world of baby toys, clothes, play dates, and the endless amount of "stuff" I need! I have found some great ways to raise a bay on a budget as well as made a few mistakes along the way and wasted some of my hard-earned dollars. Here are some tips on how to have a baby without going broke!!

Borrow, borrow, borrow!!! We were so lucky to have some friends and family loan us some essential baby gear such as a bassinet, a pack n' play, a swing, and a bathtub. Never in my entire life had I ever experienced so much generosity, and not until Hudson started nearing 1 year old did I realize why everyone was so eager to give me their stuff!! Not only does borrowing from others save you money, but it also eliminates the burden of having to store all of the "junk" for years and years until the next baby comes or sell it second hand for a fraction of what you paid for it! Take it from me, your baby will not get NEARLY as much use out of most of the toys and furniture and gear you are forking out top dollar for. Take people up on their generosity and borrow good baby gear, that is the number 1 way to save money! Make friends with someone who's baby is about 6-12 months ahead of yours and this stuff will just come pouring in :)

Find some mommy friends. I was able to join a "Mommy and Me" group at the hospital where I delivered for only $2.50 per visit. This was by far the best investment I have made as a mommy. I have made friends to socialize with (which is vital), we share stories and advice about issues that arise with ourselves and our babies, we share info on good products, baby sales, and places to go. All of us moms also started a Fabebook group to communicate and we are able to expand our friendship. The reason that this group has saved me money is that it is a super cheap place to go to get out of the house and be around friends and let Hudson socialize, as well as giving me a great opportunity to utilize the expertise of others before I buy things and borrow and try things out as well!

Ask advice and try-before-you-buy! Reading online reviews, asking friends who have children, and trying out products have become essential to me over the past year. I made the mistake of buying a lot of stuff before Hudson was born and when I saw popular baby gear at the store, only for Hudson to be totally not interested in it! And then there were other things that he played with at the homes of my friends that he totally loved! For example, for the first 4 or 5 months I bought pacifier after pacifier that he would actually keep in his mouth at night and in the car, but I could not find the right one!! Not until I took him to my sister-in-laws and a friends house, where he kept stealing the pacifiers out of his cousin and his friend's mouths, was I able to buy one he actually used! This goes for baby carriers (Baby Bjorn, Moby, Ergo...), toys, play equipment, food...anything! Ask someone to offer you a recommendation about what their baby likes, or even better, ask if yours can try it out (or borrow it) before you go out and spend the money to buy it!

Buy multi-purpose gear. I was so close to buying one of those super expensive baby food makers to make my own baby food, before I realized the food processor I already owned would work just fine (and he wasn't actually eating purees for that long anyhow). It's also super aggravating when you buy your baby a fancy toy and all they want to play with is your remote control, or your shoe, or your wooden mixing spoon! The cheapest and easiest thing you can do to entertain your baby is to just find random stuff around your house that they can play with, or if you have to buy something, try to find a product that can grow with your baby or be used for multiple purposes. Such as I was able to find an exersaucer (used of course) that Hudson could sit in at first, and then stand at when he got bigger. I also found a vibrating baby chair that worked great for newborn naps and stationary play and then was also a great pre-highchair feeding area for purees before he was able to sit up very well. Not only will this save you money on having to buy a lot of different items, it will also cut down on the clutter in your home!

Utilize your neighborhood. Most libraries have free story times as well as "cultural passes" that you can check-out for the day to attend local museums and activities around your area for free. Most indoor malls open their doors hours before the actual stores open, so this is a great place to go and just get some exercise and get out of the house for free (bring a friend from your mommy group for more fun!) Have a friend who lives in an apartment or condo? Set up a pool party and get some free swimming in! Hook up with someone with a membership to a local zoo or museum. I have a membership to my zoo with free babies under 2 as well as a free guest. I always post on my mommy group facebook page when I am going so another mom can come free as well! Local parks and schools are great places to picnic and stroll around, also many churches sometimes offer indoor play areas on certain days of the week that are either free or super cheap. Go on hikes, feed the ducks by the lake, visit a nature reserve, or just simply take a walk and get lost in your own town! And lastly, my mommy group and I always host monthly play dates hosted at someones house or a park where we bring snacks and toys and the babies play while we socialize!!

Don't over-buy before the baby comes! Diapers, clothes, bedding, towels, and all of those other "essentials" are always pushed on new moms to stock up on before the baby arrives!! But the reality is that your baby will grow out of them faster than you can use them, or they will simply not get used at all. My son was only in newborn diapers for his first 2 weeks, as well as newborn clothes. We wasted so much money stocking up on lots of those and he never even used them!! If you are having a baby shower, I can almost guarantee you will be well stocked on diapers and clothes to get your baby through the first 3 months at least. For sure go and buy those "have-to-have" adorable outfits that you just can't wait to dress your baby in, but you probably wont have to buy more than just a few items in each size for the first 6-9 months. Also, remember the season you are having the baby in. All of my NB-3 month fleece pajamas and socks went to waste because it was too hot to wear in the summer when he was born. When it comes to diapers, if you need to add to your supply after getting what your friends and family have donated, try to buy a few small packages from different brands. Each baby is shaped differently and will fit better in some diapers than others. I am a Pampers lover myself, but I know other moms swear by Huggies, and Costco and Target brand are amazing too! (this same advice also applies to wipes) As you start to get to know your little critter you will find that you (and the baby) prefer certain brands and styles of clothes and you will become a little more picky in your shopping and only buy things you KNOW your baby will wear and use.

Buy used, on sale, and out of season. Craigslist, second hand sales, clearance sections, and after-season sales have become my life saver!! Many great things can be bought used from friends, second-hand sales, or from garage sales or Craigslist. The only things that I would recommend buying new are the safety things like carseats, cribs, and bottles. Getting great clothes and toys and other seasonal items was so much cheaper when I was buying them for the future! Once you kind of get the hang of how your baby is fitting clothes you can buy them next year's winter coat this year after they go on clearance!! Borrowing that kind of stuff is always the best bet, but buying used or for dirt cheap is the next best idea!!

Don't forget to pass your things along to other moms when you are done with them or wont need them for a while...spread the mommy karma!! Let me know if any of the other mommies out there have any other great ideas!!

Sarah