Well, when it comes to Food... we take advantage of the food bank, and we had a plot at a community garden last season, which provided us with Lots of fresh fruits and veggies. We've become experts at finding awesome stuff on the discount racks and we make our own food from scratch.
When it comes to Rent... We had roommates for a while to reduce the cost of paying for an apartment, but at the moment we are living with Eric's dad rent free until we get a little more financially stable. Come May we're planning on moving into a basement place with our own washer and dryer for $400.00 a month. Find the good deals!
When it comes to Baby Stuff... well, lets see... here is a list that I found on the internet of "a few basic start-up costs" ... Let's see what they have to say...
Baby’s Room
Crib $100-$600
Crib mattress $50-$150
Crib sheets $40-$150
Bassinet: $50-$200
Mobile $30
Rocking chair $200-$400
Diaper changing table $100-$300
Diaper pail $25-$35
Baby books $20-$50
Baby monitor: $30-$100
Crib $100-$600
Crib mattress $50-$150
Crib sheets $40-$150
Bassinet: $50-$200
Mobile $30
Rocking chair $200-$400
Diaper changing table $100-$300
Diaper pail $25-$35
Baby books $20-$50
Baby monitor: $30-$100
Baby Clothing
Pajamas, 5 pairs: $40-$100
Onesies, 5 to 10: $30-$80
Play outfits, 5: $30-$80
Sleep sack, 2: $20-$45
Bibs, 5: $20-$40
Blankets, 4: $30-$80
Pajamas, 5 pairs: $40-$100
Onesies, 5 to 10: $30-$80
Play outfits, 5: $30-$80
Sleep sack, 2: $20-$45
Bibs, 5: $20-$40
Blankets, 4: $30-$80
Other Baby Equipment
Infant car seat and base: $40-$300
Convertible car seat: $80-$300
Stroller: $120-$500
Play mat: $25-$60
Swing: $80-$125
Bouncer: $45-$100
Soft or musical toys: $25-$60
Sling or other baby carrier: $40-$100
Infant car seat and base: $40-$300
Convertible car seat: $80-$300
Stroller: $120-$500
Play mat: $25-$60
Swing: $80-$125
Bouncer: $45-$100
Soft or musical toys: $25-$60
Sling or other baby carrier: $40-$100
Baby Care and Feeding
Bathtub: $25
Baby shampoo and lotion: $20
Bath towels and washrags: $30-$50
Humidifier: $30-$60
Pacifiers, 4: $15
Breast pump and breast milk storage bags (if you are breastfeeding): $150-$300
Bottles, set of 6: $25-$40
Bottle brush: $5
Baby spoons and bowls: $15-$25
Safety gates: $100
Total: $1,685 to $4,625Bathtub: $25
Baby shampoo and lotion: $20
Bath towels and washrags: $30-$50
Humidifier: $30-$60
Pacifiers, 4: $15
Breast pump and breast milk storage bags (if you are breastfeeding): $150-$300
Bottles, set of 6: $25-$40
Bottle brush: $5
Baby spoons and bowls: $15-$25
Safety gates: $100
AND, they forgot to mention the two largest potential expenses: formula ($1500.00-$2000.00 in a year) and disposable diapers ($1400.00-$2500.00 from birth to 2 years) altogether, that's a lot of dough...
Where do I start???
I'll tell you what I use for my baby...
Baby Clothing
-About 15 onesies (free (hand me downs, gifts and the food bank))
-About 10 sleepers (free)
-About 15 bibs (free)
(And I don't have specific clothes for sleep time or playtime.)
Other Baby Equipment
-Car seat (one of the big but necessary expenses)
-Toys and books
-Moby wrap
-Ring sling (Check this out >> (No Sew Ring Sling Howto...)
-30 Cloth Diapers (off kijiji.ca)
-About 10 Blankets from sheets to knitted ones
-About 35 Receiving blankets (which I use for play mats and poop/pee mats in my bed)
-Baby monitor
Baby Care and Feeding
-The sink or bath tub for bathing
-Water instead of baby soap and shampoo
-5 baby towels
-Boobs for feeding (I may invest in milk storage bags and a couple of bottles in the future)
-LOTS of wash cloths (and a package of 70 natural wipes which usually last about 3 weeks when torn in half and used along with cloth wipes)
-I haven't bought any baby dishes as of yet because he's only 5 weeks old
So far I've spent under $500.00 on him. What a contrast... nowhere near their proposed $3000.00!!!
Clay doesn't use strollers, bouncers or swings and he sleeps in my bed.
Here is what I did and what I recommend if you're trying to save as much money as possible (and perhaps are interested in more basic and natural methods of raising children)...
-Consider bed sharing (The Benefits of Bed Sharing)
-Consider kangaroo parenting/baby wearing instead of using a stroller (and/or look for a stroller on kijiji.ca)
-Breastfeed instead of formula feeding
-Don't bother with unnecessary things such as changing tables and diaper pails (just use a change mat on a large flat surface (like the floor or the bed), and throw stuff out in the garbage or tied in plastic bags)
-Consider cloth diapering (yes they can cost a lot in the beginning, but you'll be spending hundreds less in the long run) Check out this video on using receiving blankets as cloth diapers! ;) (Cloth Diapering on a Budget) and these videos for a cheaper way to wash diapers (How to Make a Bucket Washer and How to Hand Wash Cloth Diapers)
-Take advantage of local food banks, look for organizations that help people with little income (especially for new parents), and check out kijiji.ca and second-hand places like Frenchy's and Value Village
-Be creative and use things for multiple purposes (use blankets as play mats, tear up old t-shirts for wash cloths, use adult towels for baby towels, make your own baby carrier (Make a No Sew Baby Wrap out of Shirts), etc...
-Get really good at finding sales
-Grow some of your own food (and if you don't have a yard to do it, you can try to find a local community farm, or if you have a balcony try container gardening)
-Have a baby shower and don't be afraid to ask people for help!
All in all, I suggest thinking outside the box, in a non-disposable and back to basics way. You'll be saving hundreds of dollars in no time! I hope I helped :) Happy parenting!
Read more:http://www.justmommies.com/articles/costs-having-a-baby.shtml#ixzz2MuANWstq
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