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 pleasantly surprised to find that setting up for a baby didn’t cost nearly as much as we expected. Every family’s situation is different — you may receive lots of hand-me-downs or generous registry gifts — but after talking to many experienced parents we learned we didn’t need most baby gadgets. With some planning you can figure out what you truly need, what to skip, and what others will likely give you so you don’t end up with duplicates.
Parenting is personal, so our choices won’t suit everyone. Still, here are the practical ways we saved money while keeping Clara comfortable and happy.
Avoiding the clothing frenzy — Experienced parents warned us that people love gifting baby clothes, so it’s easy to go overboard buying outfits. We resisted most of the cute impulse buys and only bought a few things we couldn’t resist. It paid off: hand-me-downs and gifts filled Clara’s wardrobe, so we didn’t overspend on clothes.
Register for the big-ticket items — We focused our registry on the essentials: carrier, swing, stroller, car seat, and a monitor. That paid off. People tend to buy clothes and small gifts on their own, so saving the registry for higher-cost necessities helped us cover major expenses without paying out of pocket.
Accept hand-me-downs, but selectively — Many friends and family offered gear like Bumbos, Boppys, and slings. We checked what was available before buying, accepted a few gently used items that fit our lifestyle, and declined items we didn’t need. That restraint saved hundreds of dollars and kept our home from overflowing with unused gadgets.
Skip some conventional gear — Advice from veteran parents helped us avoid pricey items we didn’t need. For example, a small booster seat with a tray worked fine instead of an expensive highchair, and one versatile stroller replaced multiple specialty strollers. These choices saved a few hundred dollars and freed up storage space.
Start saving for education early — Within two weeks of coming home we opened a 529 plan and started depositing any welcome checks and a regular monthly amount. Investing early helps the money grow tax-free for education expenses.
Return duplicates and unsuitable gifts — We weren’t shy about returning extra clothes or repeat toys and swapping seasonal items that wouldn’t fit at the right time. Diapers and wipes are high-usage items that aren’t commonly gifted, so we prioritized making sure we had the right sizes and seasons covered.
Try before you buy — We borrowed items like a bouncy seat to see if Clara would use them. She didn’t, so we avoided an unnecessary purchase. Check local buy/sell groups, Freecycle, Craigslist, and thrift stores for gently used items before buying new.
Skip the bassinet — Our nursery is just six steps from our bed, so Clara used her crib from day four. That saved the cost and storage of a bassinet. Of course every family is different, but skipping that extra piece worked for us and helped her settle into a consistent sleeping space early on.
Breastfeeding when possible — Breastfeeding saved us the monthly cost of formula. I prepared ahead by reading and taking a hospital class, which helped us make it work. We also plan to make homemade baby food when the time comes to save money and control ingredients.
Cloth diapers — We chose cloth diapers to save money long term and adapted our detergent routine for best results. This decision reduced recurring costs and felt environmentally sensible for our family.
Paring down gear — We ended up returning a video monitor because the audio monitor gave us everything we needed. Small changes like choosing a single breast pump instead of a double saved money without affecting usability. These swaps kept several hundred dollars in our account.
Buy only what you need — three bottles, for example — We purchased just three newborn bottles and have rarely needed more because Clara is exclusively breastfed. Tailor quantities to your routine rather than buying a large assortment of sizes and nipples up front.
Use coupons and wait for deals — Never shop at big baby stores without coupons. Many retailers accept store coupons or run promotions that significantly reduce costs. Also, resist buying everything before the baby arrives — friends and family often step in with must-haves after the baby is born, and waiting helps you avoid impulse purchases.
In short: take it slow, avoid impulse buying, try things before purchasing, accept selective hand-me-downs, and register for the big-ticket necessities rather than every cute item. Choose multi-use gear over lots of single-purpose items, and prioritize recurring savings like breastfeeding and cloth diapers if those options work for you. We’re only a few months into parenthood and still learning, but these approaches helped us save money while giving Clara everything she needs. How do you save on kid-related expenses? We’d love to hear other practical tips.
Psst — Want to read more about our general saving strategies or baby-related choices? Check the original posts and project pages from our archives for additional context.