Having a baby is such an exciting time, but the to-do list before baby comes can be overwhelming. With so many products on the market, it is hard to know exactly what you need for pregnancy and when baby arrives. Here are my 10 tips to save money during pregnancy.
Don’t Spend Full Price on Maternity clothes
Maternity clothes are needed, but it is hard to justify and expensive price tag when they are only worn for a short amount of time. There are a few ways to avoid spending retail price. Check out the best ways to find inexpensive maternity clothes.
Stock up on items you use often
When I have the time, I am someone who likes to look for sales and coupons to purchase grocery items. I focus on items I would normally purchase anyways. I stocked up on items we use often such as toilet paper, laundry detergent, cereal etc. Not only can you save money by purchasing these items on sale, you could double up savings by using a coupon or Ibotta.
Stock up on baby supplies
This one can be challenging because you don’t necessary know what is going to work well for your baby. Before our son was born we did stock up on diaper and wipes hoping that he wouldn’t be sensitive to anything- thankfully he wasn’t. Again, by stacking a sale price with a coupon we were able to save a ton of money on these items. When possible, I tried to buy a variety of brands just in case he was sensitive to a certain brand.
Review products before purchasing
There are a ton of baby products on the market! Do you research to find what products you need and what will work best for you and your family. If you’re not sure about a product, read the reviews left by other parents to see if an item is worth it or not.
Shop gently used products
Check your area for mom to mom sales or children second hand stores where you can purchase gently used items for a fraction of new price. I prefer mom to mom sales because the prices are a little bit better. Babies grow out of things so quickly, so it’s common to find items in like-new condition. You can find inexpensive, gently used clothes and larger items like swings and jumpers as well.
Decide what you would like to purchase new
There are a few things I knew I wanted to purchase new like a mattress and crib. After deciding which ones we wanted, I was able to watch for sales on those items and get decent deals on those.
Get a breast pump through insurance
I was able to get a breast pump for free through my insurance a few weeks before I was due. I went to a local medical supply store and had a few options of pumps to choose from, but ended up getting the Medela Pump in Style. You will have to check with your insurance, but some insurances allow you to order pumps online for certain websites as well.
Check with your doctor about prescribing prenatal vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are important to take throughout your pregnancy. My doctor wrote a prescription for prenatal vitamins once we started trying for a baby. I don’t pay anything out of pocket.
Create a registry
Create a registry, especially with your first baby. You will most likely have a baby shower that people will want to purchase items you need. Even with baby #2 a handful of people have asked me where I am registered. Having a registry helps people know exactly what you need.
Start a savings account early
When you first find out you are pregnant, start a separate savings account for baby expenses. By saving a little bit to it at a time, it will take some of the pressure off when you need to start buying baby items and when hospital bills start coming in.
What are your tips to save money during pregnancy?