Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

So have you been to the giant baby super store yet?  When you walk in, you’re greeted by a huge, cheerful place with millions of products that your baby just has to have to live a happy life. Right? Wrong!

Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by the sheer number of products out there – or by your desire to create that special nest for your little bird.  It can be fun to shop for your new baby,but you can shop smart and save some money and still have everything your baby needs – not to mention those cute outfits and toys that you just can’t resist sometimes!

Someone recently sent me one of those emails that shows you how much it costs to raise a child from birth to 18, and I just about fell over when I saw the six-figure dollar amount in front of me.  That’s not even including college!  With two kids of my own, it’s no wonder I never have any extra cash.

The good news is that you do have some control over how much you end up spending to care for your baby.  The actual amount of money you fork over is ultimately decided by the choices you make every day, especially at the store.  Small expenses add up to big spending faster than you could ever imagine.  Luckily, small savings add up pretty quickly, too.  Here are some painless ways to make it through the checkout line with more money in your pocket.

As a first time mom or mom-to-be, it can be so financially stressful shopping for all the essential gear and clothing necessary for your baby. Not to mention the sticker shock of seeing the cost of a mega pack of Pampers. Of course, you want the best of everything for your precious baby. However, buying all this gear and clothing can completely drain anyone’s savings account.

I remember looking at infant outfits at a popular store and was surprised to find them more expensive than a comparable adult outfit that I really needed for my post-pregnancy figure. So what is the best way to purchase brand name baby gear and clothes when you are on a small budget?

Disposable diapers, travel-size baby lotion, baby food in a jar, individually packaged servings of formula.   We live in a society obsessed with convenience.  That can be a good thing at times, but is it possible that we may have gone a little overboard with the whole idea of prepackaged, ready-to-use goods?  Corporations have figured out that we will pay ridiculously high prices for their products if we think they will save us time and energy.