Having a baby is one of the most expensive things you will ever do in life. It makes buying a nice house look like a budget affair. With a house, you save up a down payment. After signing a one-inch stack of papers, you pay a monthly mortgage for the next 30 years or until you get tired of it and sell it to the next person.
Have a baby, and you sign surprisingly few papers. But you pay for pre and post-natal care, a good therapist, and everything associated with keeping a person alive and healthy for 18 years, sometimes more. No backsies. If they want to be an artist, you might be keeping them for the next 35 years. There is no upper limit.
What's pregnancy really like? One expecting mother put it this way:
So who belongs on the cover of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting?” Maybe Archie Bunker, his face flushed with rage, wearing a big, ugly maternity tunic made out of camouflage. Anything less is false advertising.
Don't worry, expecting moms. This might be a little hyperbolic. Pregnancy is not some paramilitary organization for the temporarily insane. But you will have to be prepared to do battle with the budget. Whatever you think it costs, double it, then double it again. Here are a few tips that will ensure having a baby will not break the bank:
Buy Second-hand, Resell When Possible
Pretty much all of us wear used clothes all the time. That is because clothes are used the moment you put them on. Run them through the wash even once, and they're not even worthy for the discount rack at your favorite boutique. That fact should help you get over the ick-factor of wearing second-hand clothes.
More to the point, your baby doesn't even know the difference between new and used. She would be perfectly happy if you were to buy online here for gently used toys and accessories. If you do decide to splurge on something new with tag, be sure to resell it to help finance the next thing you have to buy. A baby grows fast, and will outgrow clothes long before she wears them out.
Skip the Brands
Other babies will not judge your baby for not wearing Prada. It is possible to break the name brand obsession. Instead, ask yourself the following:
- Does it look good on you?
- Is it comfortable?
- Does it make budget sense?
These are not difficult questions that require a lot of thought. If you are tempted by name brands, don't shop at stores that carry name brands. When it comes to baby clothes, quality may not be the main concern. At that stage, the baby will outgrow clothes before they can wear out.
It's not just about baby clothes. While there are some things you should never skimp on, most things can and should be obtained without regard to brand. The brands are largely artificial. They're all knockoffs of something even more expensive that you really can't afford.
Don't Buy All That Baby Junk!
You realize that there is no law requiring you to outfit your baby as a different Marvel super hero every day of the week, right? Pokemon is not actually a religion. And child services will not show up at your door if your baby's breakfast mush is not sponsored by Disney. Stop it!
You don't have to buy all that junk! Stop buying your baby new things just because you get bored with the old things. You are going to be caring for that little person for a very long time. The sooner you learn to say NO to none sense purchases, the more sustainable your budget will be.
None of this changes the fact that having a baby is likely the most expensive thing you will ever do. You might even do it more than once. But it doesn't have to leave you impoverished. Just remember to buy second-hand, bypass the labels. And say NO to all that junk.