Easy Ways to Do-It-Yourself and Save Big

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.

There’s nothing wrong with using products that make your life easier, but it might be wise to step back and take a good look at how much money all that convenience is costing you. A dollar here, a dollar there, and before you know it, you’re your credit card to pay bills or buy groceries. I’ve been there!

It doesn’t have to be that way, though. And lucky for us, the thrifty spending trend is on the rise. Moms everywhere are looking for ways to get back to basics and keep their money from flying out the window. There are lots of things you can do to cut costs and end up with more money to spend on mani-pedis.

Smarter Wipes
Let’s face it. Baby wipes are a necessity. I realize women have made do without them for centuries. But now that they’re on the scene, we’re not going back to washing poopie rags after every diaper change. I’m sure the landfills would be better off if we did that, but…no. Disposable wipes are the way to go. The name brand wipes are super expensive, though, when you consider the fact that they’re just glorified toilet paper. The off-brand wipes are either worthless or almost as pricey as the others. So here are some ideas to stretch your “bottom” dollar.

Tear wipes in half to get two for the price of one. Most are oversized anyway.
Use toilet paper to start the dirty diaper clean-up process and finish with a wet wipe. Using one or two wipes instead of three or four really adds up!
Make your own wipes. The materials cost much less than buying packaged wipes, and you can choose ingredients that are better for baby’s skin.

There are many recipes on the internet for making your own baby wipes, and here is the one I like:

1. Cut a roll of strong paper towels in half, making two short rolls.

2. Combine the following ingredients in a wipe container or Rubbermaid #9 container:
- 2 ¼ cups warm water
- 2 tbsp baby oil
- 2 tbsp baby wash or shampoo

3. Place one short roll of paper towels in the container and let it absorb the mixture, flipping once or twice to speed the process. Once the roll is soaked, pull out the cardboard center and start the roll by pulling towels from the middle. Save the other short roll for next time.

Wash for Less
Baby wash is one of those hidden costs that you spend a small fortune on without realizing it. If you fall for brands with fancy packaging, you’ll spend even more without getting anything in return – except a fancy package sitting on your bathtub. The higher price might be worth it if you get an organic baby wash that is made with all natural ingredients. But there are ways to save big on this expense, too.

- Use baby wash sparingly. Babies aren’t that big, or that dirty (usually). Put a little soap in a wet rag and rub to lather. That should last the whole bath. Unless, of course, it’s baby’s first birthday, and he has chocolate cake from head to toe.

- Foaming baby wash is great, but you’re paying for three parts water and one part soap. Making your own foaming soap, for a fraction of the cost, is as easy as getting the right dispenser and adding a tiny amount of your favorite baby wash. The Suds Pump® by Pampered Chef costs $9.50, but it makes any liquid soap last up to ten times longer. Or you can just by a commercial foaming baby wash and refill it once it’s empty. To refill, pour about a tablespoon of your favorite liquid baby wash into the empty bottle. Then fill to the top with water. Shake to mix.

Feed for Less
I fed my kids Gerber baby food for years without thinking twice about how much it was costing. I even bought the organic brands a few times, hoping to avoid a few chemicals. Then one day I bought a large jar of natural applesauce that didn’t cost much more than the tiny jar of baby food applesauce. Commercial baby food is convenient, but you don’t get much for your money – especially if you’re trying to go organic. The obvious answer is to make your own baby food, but how? There are tips, guidelines, and easy recipes on several different websites. My favorite is WholesomeBabyFood.com. Making baby food is really very simple, and you can freeze it in ice cube trays for future use. One food-preparation session could give you weeks of delicious, healthy, cheap food for baby.

Unnecessary Expenses
One of the best ways to guard your pocketbook is recognize a rip-off when you see it. Just because a friendly mom on a TV commercial tells you her life is easier because of the product she’s holding, it doesn’t mean that product is really necessary – or even all that convenient. Here are some things that I’ve found to be a complete waste of money.

- Disposable, ready-to-use washcloths or wash mitts. Real washcloths are not a big enough hassle to justify the cost and the waste of disposable ones.

- Diaper sacks for dirty diapers. Plastic grocery sacks work just as well for free.

- Single serving packets of formula – expensive! Reusable, travel-size dispensers cost about $3.00.

- Ready-to-feed bottles of formula. $9.99 for a 6-pack. Enough said.

Raising baby doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg if you pay close attention to where your money’s going. A little creativity and ingenuity goes a long way when you’re trying to hold onto more of your cash. It’s easier than you might think, and the financial benefits are well worth your efforts.