Your sleep schedule isn’t the only thing that may suffer during the first year of your baby’s life. Your wallet may too. According to the book Baby Bargains, baby gear (from cribs to clothes to car seats) for the first year alone can run at least $7,000.
The good news, however, is that there are simple strategies new, and soon-to-be, parents can use to cut down the costs of raising a baby from birth to age one, money-saving methods that are today’s hint.
1.) Don’t pay full price when you don’t have to. Always search online for discount codes before you make any big purchase and take advantage of big retail sale events like Cyber Monday and holiday-season sales. You can find great deals. For instance, during the week after Thanksgiving, I bought my daughter a Little Tikes kitchen for around $50 that is regularly priced at roughly $90 to $125. In addition, don’t forget to join store loyalty clubs if you’re going to make most of your purchases at certain stores, and also consider joining local Moms groups (like the Golden Gate Mothers Group in San Francisco, where I live, which offer members discounts at various gear vendors).
2.) Rely on your network. Take – and ask for – hand me downs. If you’re lucky enough to have experienced parents as relatives or friends, don’t be bashful about saying “yes” if they offer to let you borrow – or even keep – their used baby gear. And don’t be ashamed to outright ask if they have anything to lend. They may actually be thinking about how to get rid of – or at least be looking for somewhere to store – their old gear.
3.) Pick your gear wisely. Take the time to research and determine the particular gear (from car seats to strollers to baby carriers) that will work best for your particular lifestyle, so you’re buying the right gear from the start and won’t have to waste money on replacement items.
You can read about more ways to save money during your baby’s first year in the whole post on Well Rounded NY, where I’m a contributor.
What are your tricks for cutting down the costs of baby gear?
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