Congratulations, you are off on one of the most important adventures of your life-having a baby. Do you fall among those categories which falls under the curosity for how to save money with a newborn? It is a big responsibility, and likewise, a big budget needs to be dished out to take care of your little bundle of joy. Annually Americans spend roughly up to $2,000 per month on the baby. That includes things like childcare and food. Of course, you want your newborn baby to have the best in the world, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune on them to have happy and healthy first years of life. Here are a few ways on how to save money with a newborn.
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Get a Cardboard Box Instead of a Crib
We’re not kidding. Although it may sound ridiculous, this is actually a common practice in Finland, where a pregnant mother gives an expectant mother a box full of essential goodies. The box afterward is often used as a crib or bassinet. Why do they do that? Well, research shows that using boxes can decrease the likelihood of SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome.
When Finland started using this program, its number of infant deaths decreased by a substantial amount. Some U.S.companies are even jumping on the trend. New Jersey was the first state to start giving them out for free.
To go along with this information, a typical crib in the U.S. can cost anywhere between $100 and $850, and that’s not including the mattress. So, before you spend big bucks on a place for your baby to sleep, try getting a non-toxic newborn box kit from a company that sells them in your area. Notice that although plenty of research supports the use of these boxes, they are not certified. Always make sure that your provider is giving you a good quality box before accepting it.
Get Freebies and Coupons for How to Save Money With a Newborn
Did you know that maternity wards usually have free samples to give to expectant mothers? Companies want to sell their products, so they’ll give out free samples and free catalogs in hopes that you’ll pick theirs over the competitors. Just asking if there are any coupons or samples that can get you a plethora of free stuff to use for your newborn. The same goes for your doctor. It’s possible that they may have samples to give you. This may not be applicable every time you ask, but it wouldn’t hurt to at least try.
You can even call up some companies like Gerbers for free samples and coupons. We know it isn’t the same as getting the the real thing, but at least it’ll tide you over for a while.
If you want to find, more coupons try Free Samples Pro, which has a ton of coupons for different things like hotels and entertainment. Try your luck and see if there’s anything for baby supplies. You might be surprised to find some coupons that may help out your wallet.
Get a Better Life Insurance Plan
Yea, we know it might be a little early to look into your life insurance provider just for a baby, but the fact is that a baby is already added to your plan for the first 30 days of life before you get to choose if you’re staying on your old schedule or switching to a new one. Companies like State Farm or Northwestern Mutual are ready as some of the best life insurance companies ready to take you in when that time comes.
Life insurance for a baby is relatively inexpensive, with some plans only costing a few dollars a month for a child rider. On top of that, it can help save hundreds in the future, or in the case of a sudden SIDS.
While this is a profoundly saddening topic, the sad truth is that death is expensive, even for a new baby. Part of the reason why you need an insurance plan for a baby is to help cope with any financial needs for the burial. Life insurance is also beneficial for parents of disabled kids for help with medical conditions associated with their disability. In the long run, life insurance for your child costs less and can help save money in the future.
DIY
This is where your life skills like cooking and sewing can shine. A lot of baby products like food, blankets, or anything else that involves crafting can be done by you at a fraction of the cost of buying it from a store. Are you a gardener? Steam up some peas and mash them together for a perfectly healthy dinner for your newborn. There are plenty of recipes online for you to use. All you need is the produce, steam, and a blender.
The same goes for clothing. If you know how to sew, then get your machine out and find clothing templates to make baby clothes. This also works for things like baby holders and blankets.
Other hard skills include woodworking for feed trays and toys.
If you don’t know any of these skills, then find a class near you that offers lessons. Not only are these crafting skills good for making new baby stuff, but they also are an invaluable skill to have in general.
While this does cost a little more labor and time, you end up saving money on things that would normally take a lot more out of you in the long run.
Did You Like Our Advice?
Having a baby will always be expensive one way or another, and if you learn how to save money with a newborn, you’ll solve half of your problems. And there’s never going to be just one way to help lower costs. The best thing for you to do with your baby is figure out your and your child’s needs and make the right decisions based on that. If you find that any of these little tidbits of information helped you on your new adventure, then great! Good luck with finding the best ways to help save you money on what will probably be the most expensive decision of your life.
