Among the many concerns new parents have these days, it's not just the challenge that comes with bringing a new life into the world, but trying to figure out how to do so in a way that won’t break the bank. When it comes to making homes affordable in preparation for a new bundle of joy, the good news is that there are tips and tricks parents can turn to in order to make this process as stress-free as possible.
Plan Well in Advance
This doesn’t just mean picking what items you want in the nursery or the color schemes of the paint you’ll use. As soon as you know you’re pregnant, start budgeting. Nine months is a great window of time to get your finances together and estimate how much preparing your home for the new arrival will cost. Set up a special bank account where you’ll be able to put away a small portion of your paycheck or any additional income you receive. Use these funds for baby related expenses.
Get Rich Slowly recommends also budgeting for the possibility of dealing with a one-income household instead of two. Calculate the amount of money needed to not only prepare your home but how much will be needed to maintain it with only one parent working.
Have a Garage Sale
Let’s face it: things aren’t going to remain the same once your baby arrives. Not only does your home need to be baby-friendly, you’ll need more space. Hosting a garage sale kills two birds with one stone. Estimate how much money you’ll need to raise for certain items, such as a crib, car seat, baby furniture, etc. Don’t forget to ask your family and friends to help pitch in. Ask them to contribute items to the garage sale and see if they’d be open to splitting the profits from their sales with you. If they know you’re in a financial bind, they’ll be more than willing to.
It Doesn’t Have to be Brand New
While it’s every new mother’s dream to have all new items in the nursery, those on a budget have other alternatives available to them. Bargaineering highly favors new parents visiting the local thrift store, which carries everything from baby clothes and cribs to toys and other products at super low prices. Websites like Craigslist are also filled with tons of baby items for sale. Some items are even given away free so don’t be afraid to take advantage of these options. However, thoroughly check out the quality of each item you purchase—especially when it comes to furniture like cribs, changing tables and dressers.
Turn to Your Support System
There’s no better way to afford the process of creating a new home for your baby than asking for assistance from family and friends—namely those with children. Chances are they’ll have used clothes, toys, books and cribs they no longer need and can donate. This is a great way to check items off your list without also saying goodbye to the money in your wallet.
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Nohel Corral - Nohel Corral is an educator that spends a lot of his time freelance writing on many topics of interest. He fills his days with researching ...
