There is no getting away from the fact that becoming a parent costs you money. From hospital stays to getting all of the ‘stuff’ that you need to make life with a baby easier, there is a lot to spend money on. The costs will continue to rise, depending on how many children you have and the kind of lifestyle that you want to lead. If there are a few ways that you can cut the costs, then it has got to be a good thing, right? Here are just a few simple ideas to help you cut the cost of parenting and raising a family.

WORK FROM HOME OR STAY AT HOME

Once you’ve had a baby, one of the largest costs that you will encounter is the cost of childcare. Unless you have your parents or other relatives around to help you at a much-reduced cost, if at all, then it can be a good idea to work from home or to become a stay-at-home parent. If one of you has a low income, then that can often be the better way financially to do it. There can be little point going to work to just pay for the childcare costs and not having anything extra.

 

LOOKS FOR DEALS TO CUT THE COSTS OF RAISING A CHILD

When it comes to things for your baby, then it is a good idea to look out for some cool deals, to make sure that you get the best deal on things like strollers. This is if you want brand new anyway. If you’re not looking for brand new, then you can still get some good deals on secondhand items. Things like car seats are good to have brand new. But most other things, as long as they are in good condition, can be bought pre-loved.

MEAL PLAN

There is no two ways about it; Planning your meals will save you money. You will work with what you have already got in the home, and then just top it up with the things that you need to buy for a particular meal. It can help if you can make a large portion of the meal and then freeze it, or use the next day as leftovers. Making your money go further can be a one of the best things to do when you’re feeding a family.

START SAVING NOW

It may not feel like you have much money to set aside each month as it is. However, if you make a conscious effort to save, and find a good savings account with a good rate of interest, it really can add up when it comes to getting your kids a car or off to college. If you save $5 a week, for their entire life until they are 18, that is $4680. While that might not sound like much, with interest added, it is quite a lot. If you can save more, say $20 a week, then it would be $18,720! An amount that is not to be sniffed at.

Photo Credit: Mojitos and Munchkins