So you're losing that dual income, no kids, dink life because you're having a baby. It doesn't mean that you will never have money again. Below are the best tips I learned to save money while bringing a new baby into your family.
Everything is negotiable, including, your hospital bill. Most hospitals will work with you if you tell them that you can't afford the bill and want to set up a plan. This means, that before you pay the bill for the arrival of your new bundle of joy, you should call the hospital and negotiate. Many friends of mine have negotiated 20% off their bill by paying the total amount up front. At the end of the day, they aren't going to charge you more so you may as well call and ask.
Along that note ask for everything you can while you're still in the hospital. Ask for extra items for mama like pads, icepacks, numbing spray, etc., but also ask for extra items for baby. See if they will give you some extra diapers, wipes, pacifiers, etc. while you are still in the hospital. They won't charge you for these items individually so its worth it to get anything extra you can while you are there. The worst they can say is no.
Register for the practical things. If you're going to have a baby shower, then register for all of the things that you're going to need anyway, like diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, a car seat, etc. for baby. Don't forget about registering for the items that you will need as mama too, like lanolin cream or nursing tank bras. If you're going to have to buy it, register for it first. Even if no one ends up buying these items for you, most stores you register with will give you a completion discount on any remaining items on your registry. Also, bump up your due date on your registry by a month, so that your completion discount will kick in before you have your baby and you can buy any remaining items.
Borrow everything that you can. Your baby is growing so fast that they grow out of most clothes or contraptions in what feels like seconds. If you have any friends or family that have had children recently, see if they would be willing to lend you some of the items that you are wanting or needing so you don't have to purchase as much. Just make sure you take extra care to give back any items you borrowed, from clothes, to boppys, to bouncers.
If you do end up needing to buy a lot of items, check on Facebook marketplace or other resale platforms. Anything that can be washed and meets safety requirements you can buy from a resale shop. This can save you a lot of money, and a lot of items are almost new anyway.
Check with your local WIC (Women, Infants, & Children) to see if you can get any services from them. If you qualify for WIC assistance then they can help get you formula, vaccines, and many other items for free.
Breastfeed if you can. Formula can add up quickly as your little one's appetite increases, so stick with breastfeeding as long as you can. Also see if you can pump any extra breastmilk and save it in the freezer for the days after you stop nursing.
Make your own baby food and pouches. Once your baby is old enough to eat solid foods, the cheapest way is to make it for them. If you buy individual pouches from stores they can run you about $1/pouch which adds up quickly when your little one is eating. To the extent you can, try to make your baby food. This also allows you to know exactly what they have eaten and how much of everything is included.
Stock up while things are on sale. It may only save you a few cents at a time, but its worth it when you are going to have to buy those items anyway. Stock up on diapers, wipes, creams, shampoos or anything else that won't expire quickly while you can get a discount. Another great way to save is to sign up for Amazon's subscribe and save settings so that diapers and wipes and essential items like that will be discounted and shipped straight to your door.
A lot of diaper companies have rewards programs as well. Check to see if the diapers you use have a rewards program where you can get gift cards, free diapers, or other items simply for putting in a code on the diapers you are already buying.
Try to do some date-nights at home. You could order food from your favorite restaurant, or rent your favorite movie instead of going to the movie theatre, or any number of things. You'll still be spending money on a date night, but you won't also have to pay for a babysitter which will likely end up jacking up your bill a lot.
These are the top tips that I received, but what other tips have you heard of mamas? You deserve all the tips and tricks. So hold yourself a little higher, give a shout out to all the other mamas out there doing their thing, and carry on with your multi-tasking, kick-ass attitude, because that's all there is left to do and we're all in this together.
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