Q: You guys are so good with money I wondered if you’d consider sharing some of the ways you kept from bleeding money once you had Clara. I’ve heard that having a baby and buying all the baby stuff can set you back a few years’ worth of savings and I’m scared! But I’m sure you have figured out a few ways to be frugal without skipping a beat when it comes to providing everything that Clara needs. As you love to say, do tell! – Megan
A: We were nervous about the cost of a baby too, so we did a lot of planning and asked seasoned parents for practical advice. The result: the arrival of Clara cost far less than we expected. Parenting is personal and every family’s needs differ, but these are the practical strategies we used to save money while still giving Clara everything she needed.
Resist the baby clothing frenzy — Baby clothes are adorable, and it’s tempting to buy tons of outfits. Experienced parents warned us that friends and family usually give lots of clothing, often in many sizes. We bought only a few cute pieces we loved and relied on hand-me-downs and gifts for the rest. That saved a surprising amount and kept closets from overflowing.
Register for the big-ticket items — Instead of filling our registry with every cute trinket, we focused on essentials that are costly: a carrier, a swing, a stroller, a car seat and a monitor. Relatives and friends were happy to pool resources for those items. Getting the major gear through gifts freed up our budget for other needs and gave us confidence we had the durable necessities covered.
Accept hand-me-downs selectively — Family and friends offered a lot of gear. We accepted a few carefully chosen items that fit our lifestyle: a sling, a gently used Boppy, a nearly-new Bumbo and a doorway jumper. Those four items alone would have cost well over $150 new, so saying yes to the right hand-me-downs helped a lot. We passed on extras we didn’t need to avoid clutter.
Choose smarter, not more gear — We learned that many expensive baby items can be replaced by simpler, cheaper alternatives. For example, a small booster seat with a tray works well instead of a bulky highchair, and a single versatile stroller can cover most needs instead of multiple strollers for different stages. These choices saved hundreds of dollars and reduced the amount of space baby gear occupied in our home.
Start saving for education early — Shortly after bringing Clara home we opened a 529 college savings account and began depositing gift checks and a monthly amount. It’s a tax-advantaged way to grow money over years, and it’s one of the best long-term financial moves you can make for a child.
Return duplicates and ill-timed clothing — We weren’t shy about returning duplicate items, extra toys, or clothes that were the wrong season for her expected size. For example, a summer dress labeled for six months won’t be useful if she’ll be six months old in winter, so exchanging for appropriate seasonal clothes was an easy way to avoid wasted gifts.
Try before you buy — Whenever possible, borrow items to see if they suit your baby. We borrowed a bouncy seat and discovered Clara hated it, so we saved the cost of buying one. Community groups, thrift stores and local classifieds can also be good sources for gently used items to test before buying new.
Skip the bassinet if it doesn’t make sense — With a small bedroom and a nursery just across the hall, we had Clara sleep in her crib from day four and saved the cost and storage space of a bassinet. It’s not right for everyone, but it worked for us and may be an option to consider based on your living situation.
Breastfeed if possible — Breastfeeding isn’t feasible for every parent, but for us it worked and saved roughly the monthly cost of formula. Preparing by taking a class and reading up helped make it a positive experience for both of us.
Use cloth diapers if it fits your lifestyle — Cloth diapers aren’t for all families, but they can lead to meaningful savings over time. We researched our options, adjusted detergents, and found a system that worked for us while reducing long-term diaper costs.
Buy only what you need — We returned a video monitor after realizing a single audio monitor gave us the reassurance we wanted. I chose a single breast pump instead of a double based on usage patterns and recommendations. Small downgrades that match your real needs can save hundreds without sacrificing function.
Limit bottles and nipples — We kept just three bottles with newborn nipples and found that sufficient for our occasional pumping needs. Knowing your routine helps you avoid overbuying different sizes and types prematurely.
Use coupons and wait on nonessentials — We always used store coupons for baby retailers and saved larger coupons for more expensive purchases. Also, we delayed many nonessential purchases until after the baby arrived — people often bring what you need, and you’ll quickly learn which items are truly useful.
In short, take it slow, prioritize big items on your registry, accept useful hand-me-downs, try items before buying, and resist the urge to buy every cute thing you see. These choices helped us keep costs down while giving Clara a comfortable, happy start. We’re still learning, but being intentional about purchases made a big difference. What tips have worked for you when saving for kids?
Psst — We wrote more about saving strategies and practical projects in our Save It series and other posts. For tips on organizing and storing baby clothes, check your favorite parenting resources for ideas.