Pregnant & Penniless or How to Add to Your Family on $25/month

Whether you just got that positive pregnancy test or you have been discussing and debating whether to start trying to conceive, you've probably wondered how much having a baby is going to cost you and if you really can afford it. When we decided to start our family, we were a single income family with all intentions of staying that way. Fortunately we had experience living simply and weren't afraid to break the norms of what baby "must have" in order to be good parents. That's why we knew we could do it. So I'm here to tell you, that you can in fact raise a baby with little money to your name. In fact my following list rakes in at only $600 for everything you realistically need to get through the first year and a half of your child's life. If you start budgeting in your 3rd month of pregnancy, that breaks down to less than $25/month!

Don't be afraid to register for the big ticket items! Friends and family are eager to shop for you and your little one and some might even go in together for something expensive that you really need.

Car Seat = $60

• A convertible car seat is your best bang for your buck and at $60 the Evenflo Tribute LX is one of the top 5 best rated convertible seats. Register for it and maybe you won’t even have to pay a dime.

On The Go = $60

• Register for a stroller
• Umbrella Stroller = $20
• Use a Ring Sling for daily baby wearing. You can find a nice starter like this one or buy second hand from Babywearing on a Budget for under $40

Co-sleep then straight to toddler bed or Montessori Floor Bed = $44

• Register for crib/toddler bed & mattress
• 2 fitted sheets = $14
• Blanket - gifted or diy
• 2 Swaddle Blankets = $10
• 2 crib pads = $18
• Pillow = Free - baby uses mama’s nursing pillow after a year

Breastfeed = free - $25

• Free pump from insurance
• 3 bottles = $10
• Register for milk storage bags
• Attend LLL mtgs for support
• Nursing Pillow = $15 after retailmenot code
• Practice Baby Led Weaning so baby eats whatever the family eats

Diapering = $310

• Diapering with flats = $38
  • 20 Walmart FST = $15.76
  • 5 DIY Flip Style Covers = $18
  • Snappi = $4.35
• Wipes = $11
  • 1 yard flannel cute down to 8x8 and served = $4 (after 40% coupon)
  • Travel pump bottle filled with water and drop of baby wash & baby oil = $1
  • Pencil Box = $2
  • Travel Wipes Case = $4
• Use a shoe organizer for storing everything over a door = $8.39
• Dollar Tree Serving Spoon = $1
• Drying Rack (fold out in shower) = $9
• Wet Bags = $38
  • Reuse grocery bags when out = free
  • 2 Wet Bags = $37.90
• Register for Diaper Bag or throw an organizer insert in your regular purse = $16
• Skip the changing table and pad and just use a changing liner on any surface = $10
• Washing Machine = $164 (utility costs to run washer)
  • One of the biggest budget objections to cloth diapering is the washing routine. If you don’t have a washing machine you likely go to the laundromat every week. Well if you start CDing you will wash more and that could get expensive but you can also get a decent basic washing machine off craigslist for $75. It might not have all the bells and whistles but at $1.50/week for the year and an utility cost of $.45/load (source) doing just 2 loads a week will cost you half of what you are currently spending at the laundromat in washing and CD are meant to air dry on a line or rack. Since the cost of a machine will help you with life laundry as well I’m not counting this against your baby budget. Now if swinging this expense is just impossible you can make an easy bucket plunger washing machine for less than $10.
• Detergent = $8/year
  • This easy homemade detergent recipe will clean your diapers like a charm and only costs $.02/load to make!
• Diaper Rash Cream = $7
  • Coconut oil is the best and it’s CD safe! Just buy a tub from your local grover and transfer it to smaller recycled containers.

Infant Care = $58

• Lotion = $6-$40
  • I’m a Johnson’s mama. I know most organic people hate Johnson’s and equate it to putting poison on your baby but it worked great for my son and he had great skin that didn’t need a whole lot of lotion to begin with. So one 27oz bottle would last us the entire first year. Now if you want a “toxin-free” lotion Earth Mama Angel Baby makes a great baby lotion that you will only need about 3 bottles of to get by on for the first year. This is something you can also register for and hopefully get for free.
• Baby Wash = $9-$15
  • Again we used Johnson’s Head-to-Toe and 4 bottles is all you need for that first year and that will run you about $15 but for a few bucks less you can make a way healthier option. First you need to take a bar of baby castile soap and make it into half a gallon of liquid soap. Then just mix 1/4 cup of that with 3/4 cup distilled water into a recycled foaming soap dispenser and you have over a years worth of baby wash for under $10.
• Register for a Baby Tub
• Register for a Nursery Care Kit
• Oral Care = $6
• Burp Cloths = $12
  • Gerber’s prefolds work great for these and you’ll be able to tell them apart from your FSTs.
• Nose Frida + extra filters = $15

Clothes = Free - $200

• Be open to hand-me-downs! If you ask for anyone’s second-hand clothes you will likely get tons for free!
• Buy Second Hand! You can score some incredible pieces at local thrift shops, yard sales, and even online at Schoola.
• Family and friends will likely routinely give you outfits for special occasions and these will go a long way in dressing baby.

Misc = $50

Everyone's situation is different but don't forget that the greatest gift you can give your child is yourself. This means your time & attention. All the cute toys and gadgets in the world won't make you a better parent. If you want some more ideas on ways to save for your family specifically, feel free to contact me! I love helping families see how they can simplify their lives too :)