How to Prepare for a New Baby Without Spending a Lot of Money

New parents often hear from family, friends, and glossy magazine article how expensive having a baby can be. New furniture, clothing that is outgrown quickly, formula and baby food, and a dozen other "must haves" that can add up quickly. So what are parents who simply do not have a huge amount of money to spend to do? Here are some money saving tips for parents-to-be.

High cost item #1 - Infant formula
Buying cases of expensive infant formula can quickly add up for parents. Add into that the cost of bottles, the inconvenience of cleaning and preparing, and the sleep lost to late night feedings and the price of formula seems even larger. What can parents do to save money? Breastfeed. Breastmilk is free, always ready, and goes with you every where. Breastfed children also have stronger immune systems, which can mean healthier children and less doctor bills or time off of work to care for sick children.

High cost item #2 - Diapers
Second to formula diapers are the next highest priced item that parents will be constantly buying. Even with cheaper brands with ten to twelve diaper changes a day the prices can be enormous. What can parents do? Cloth diapers are making a strong comeback because they are not only as easy to use as disposable diapers, come in an assortment of cute styles and colors, but also because the one time cost is half of what most parents will spend on disposable diapers in their child's diapered life. Costs for disposable diapers average at about $2,000 to $3,000 per child, yet a good cloth diaper stash can be put together for around $500. And the best part? Cloth diapers have a great resale value, meaning you can get most of your money back after you child has outgrown them.