Kids Don't Come Cheap

Raising a family is not cheap, but worth every penny.

After we had our first daughter, Kaila, we realized the cost of childcare plus gas to commute to work would be almost equal to my monthly paycheck. I chose to stay at home, but surviving on one salary is not easy.

As a stay-at-home mom, I’ve learned to clip coupons, search for deals in store and online, and make sacrifices.

Babies are especially expensive. If you don’t breastfeed, formula is the priciest item you will need to budget for in the first year of raising an infant. The cost of formula can be well over $100 per month and even more if your baby requires a more expensive hypoallergenic formula. To save a little money. sign-up for coupons on the manufacturers’ websites and buy in bulk at warehouse club stores. Some moms even trade formula checks and coupons.

Diapers are also very expensive, and you will be surprised how many your newborn will go through. Cloth diapering is an option if you prefer to go for a greener approach. There’s a start-up cost, but it will save money in the long run. If you like the convenience of disposables—like I admittedly do—be sure to clip coupons, sign up for manufacturer’s promotional offers and stock up at warehouse stores. During my pregnancy, I even stockpiled a few packages of diapers so we’d be a little ahead of the game before our baby arrived.

Food for an average family of four is getting more and more expensive as inflation increases food prices. I always use coupons, and I have amassed a collection that I update and add to weekly. Popular couponing television shows don’t always reflect how most supermarkets accept coupons. The items the shoppers purchase also are not always healthy either. Since I buy a majority of organic foods, I sometimes need to frequent more than one store to find the best deals. I use coupons when I can, and I make some of my own baby food at home.

Clothing is something I sometimes splurge on since I’m a bit of a denim collector. Luckily, because I have two girls, I can reuse some items. Babies grow out of clothes very quickly, so there’s no need to buy many newborn size clothes. Wait for online sales and deals, or check out auction sites or forums that allow people to sell or swap clothing.  Inevitably I sometimes give into that adorable cupcake outfit I spied for my girls, but if you are able to save in one category you can splurge once in awhile in another.

Sacrifice. No more Vegas weekends. No more dining out. I don’t get my nails or hair done as often. I try to resist that cute new pair of jeans. We bought a used car instead of brand new. It’s all worth it. There will be a time when it’s just my husband and I again. Perhaps we will be able to spontaneously drive to Vegas for the weekend in about 18 years or so. Until then our, family is our best bet.