| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | the bouncy chair if they buy the swing and you can let |
| A common question of couples planning on starting a | | | | each other borrow them when you need them. |
| family is, How much does it cost to have a | | | | Newborn gear is easy to share with others because |
| baby? With the media reporting that children can | | | | the items only get used for a few months, hardly |
| cost hundreds of thousands to raise, cribs retailing at | | | | enough time to get dirty or wrecked. |
| hundreds of dollars and health care expenses soaring, | | | | The costs that you will need to budget for in your |
| it’s no wonder new parents are concerned. | | | | monthly budget are the re-occuring costs. Again, these |
| While there is no black and white answer on how | | | | can be as high or as low as you let them. The usual |
| much you are going to spend, the good news is that | | | | reoccurring baby costs are: formula/baby food, |
| you can make child rearing as expensive or as | | | | diapers, clothes, doctors visits, and toys. |
| inexpensive as you choose. | | | | Formula and disposable diapers can often be your |
| As with many things, babies come with fixed | | | | largest expenses. As a guideline, assume that |
| expenses and re-occurring expenses. The cost of | | | | disposable diapers and wipes will cost you around $80 |
| fixed expenses, like baby gear and nursery décor, | | | | per month and formula $100 per month. However, both |
| can easily be reduced down to a minimum. | | | | expenses can be virtually eliminated if you breastfeed |
| Decorating a nursery can easily run you thousands of | | | | and use cloth diapers. Breastfeeding is free and you |
| dollars if you buy all new furniture, rugs, curtains, wall | | | | can get a years supply of cloth diapers for less than |
| decorations, closet organizers etc. However, with a | | | | $150. |
| little creativity, resourcefulness and thought, you can | | | | When your baby is old enough to start on solids you |
| easily put together a dream nursery for a few | | | | can spend money on canned baby food or you can |
| hundred, or even less! Keep your eyes and ears open | | | | choose the most inexpensive option of making your |
| for hand-me-downs, scour online classified, auctions | | | | own baby food purees. They are easy to make and |
| and make it a regular outing to go to weekend garage | | | | taste so much better. The cost will only be an extra |
| sales. Update a well used, but dirt cheap, changing | | | | portion of fruit, vegetables and grains that you already |
| table with a fresh coat of paint and some inexpensive | | | | buy. |
| storage baskets. If you can’t find a used crib | | | | Clothes and toys can be found second hand, church |
| bumper that you love, ask your creative aunt or friend | | | | thrift stores are great places to look, or from generous |
| to sew you a custom bumper out of adorable fabric | | | | family members at gift giving occasions. Luckily babies |
| for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Take every | | | | are so curious about the world around them that toys |
| opportunity to go to garage sales to find the cute little | | | | are easily found in everyday objects. |
| knick knacks that give a room personality. | | | | The web is full of free baby products, so take |
| Baby gear such as car seats, high chairs, stollers and | | | | advantage! If you register at your favorite baby |
| bouncy chairs can also be found at bargains if you are | | | | product websites you will soon start receiving |
| willing to go with used. Make sure to check for safety | | | | generous coupons in the mail. |
| recalls on everything you buy second hand. | | | | The bottom line is that babies can be raised on any |
| If you have a good friend or relative who’s | | | | kind of budget. What babies need more than monetary |
| planning on starting a family soon make a deal with | | | | objects are love, attention, and affection, which are all |
| them that you’ll share baby gear. You can buy | | | | free. |