Ah, there is nothing like being an expectant mom. Along with your expanding waistline comes the ever growing list of products for you and your new bundle of joy. Preparing for a new baby can be a costly experience, especially in the areas of clothing and nursery furniture. The good news is that it does not have to be!

Let’s talk about buying baby clothes…think RESALE! Every new mom gushes over the adorable clothing available for babies, but they often come with a not so adorable price. Resale clothing costs a fraction of the retail price. Buying resale clothing does not equal buying trash! Moms sell their baby’s clothing to resale stores for a variety of reasons. Babies outgrow clothes so quickly (normally before they show any wear) they simply cannot use them anymore. Many precious newborns receive more clothes than they can wear in a season (everyone loves to buy baby clothes for shower gifts–they are just too cute!) that cannot be returned and they end up in resale stores with the tags still on! If you have the time and know what you are looking for, you can find plenty of designer and brand name clothing for a steal!

Buy now…save later! There is more beauty to the changing of the seasons than just the landscape! As the temperatures change, so do the prices of baby clothing! Most stores slash the price of their clothing up to 75% by the end of the season to make room for new clothes. Take advantage of this by buying a size or two larger than your baby’s current size for him/her to wear the next year. The savings are amazing!

Another large expense when you are preparing for a new baby is furniture for the nursery. A good place to start when considering which pieces to buy is determining how much room you have to work with? Do you have a large room or do you need multipurpose furniture? A crib is a necessity and a given; however, you can pick and choose other nursery pieces. Combination pieces such as dresser/changing table combos are available at some stores and can save you from buying two pieces. Cribs with attached drawer space that convert to toddler beds are also available and will save you a lot of space. Thinking ahead when buying nursery furniture will save you both time and money in the future. By buying a combination piece of furniture for your nursery, you eliminate having to sell furniture you no longer need, as well as spending time looking for and more money on new “big kid” furniture. Now that you have decided what to buy, it is time to shop! Once again, think resale! There are many children’s resale stores that carry pre-owned nursery furniture for 50% or more off retail. They usually have several styles to choose from in different price ranges. If you find something you like, they will usually hold it for you (if you were not really prepared to take it home) and some stores may even have lay away plans.

Another great place to buy pre-owned furniture is the classified ads in your local newspaper. Seller’s usually place ads on Thursday or Friday so they can catch the weekend readers. If you find something you are interested in, call quickly! Good furniture does not last long! Make sure you ask the seller plenty of questions. It is important to know before heading out to look at furniture things like the manufacture name, the age, if they have pets (if you are buying cushioned items and allergies are an issue for your family) and the exact color (if it is not adequately described in the ad). Asking these questions may be uncomfortable, but they can save you a lot of time and gasoline looking at something you know you will not be interested in. When you do look at pre-owned furniture from the newspaper, take someone with you and know what you are looking at. Are the style and the manufacturer of the furniture worth what the seller is asking for it? Is the furniture reasonably priced for it’s age and condition? With a little knowledge, buying pre-owned nursery furniture can save you BIG money!

Awaiting the arrival of your new baby is an exhilarating time! Add to the excitement by saving money on quality gently worn (and sometimes new) clothing and pre-owned nursery furniture!

About the Author:
Susan Koiner is a SAHM, and former teacher, of three great kids ages seven, four and three. Her family, like many others, struggles with the challenges of “one income” and from this comes her passion for finding creative ways to save money. Susan is also the owner and creator of www.money-moms.com.

One of the first things that you will want to do, when a long distance grandparent, is start planning your trips to see your grandchild. This is particularly important if you are on a budget or if you must make expensive travel arrangements. Unfortunately, the high costs of travel often keep long distance grandparents home, but you shouldn’t let it. Preplanning can allow you to develop a money saving budget. All money saved can go towards the cost of travel. No matter what sacrifices you need to make, if any, they will be well worth it when you see your new grandchild.

Another step that you will want to take is speaking with your child to see what they need for their impending arrival. Being a long distance grandparent, you may be unable to attend baby showers or see first hand which new baby gifts were given. Before purchasing any supplies, toys, or clothes for your new grandchild, you will want to speak with the parents first. This will prevent unnecessary purchases and it will also enable you to purchase items that will be put to good use.

As previously stated, long distance grandparents may be unable to attend pre-baby celebrations, such as baby showers. If that is the case, you may want to take steps to create your own celebrations. If you have other friends or family members where you reside, you may want to collect baby gifts to send back home. If you will be arriving to see your new grandchild shortly after their birth, you may want to plan your own baby shower. This is actually a common occurrence with long distance relatives.

Another one of the many steps that you will want to take, as a long distance grandparent, involves keeping constant contact with your child. This will provide you with a direct link to your new grandchild. Be sure to state your wishes of being an active, long distance grandparent. You may want to take steps to set up an email account. This email account will allow you to regularly stay updated with the progress of your grandchild, through pictures. Also, something as simple as speaking to your new grandchild on the phone will help them identify you by sounds.

The above mentioned points are just a few of the many that you, as a long distance grandparent, will want to take into consideration. As your grandchild grows, you may want to take steps to send gifts out their way for each occasion, including holidays. For instance, a small Easter basket for Easter or a small bag of treats for Halloween, may make it appear as if you are right there enjoying each and every important minute with your family.

When it comes to buying items, including toys and clothes, for your grandchild, one of the first steps that you should take is speak with your son or daughter. When it comes to new babies, many parents are overrun with toys, gifts, and clothes. In fact, did you know that many newborns don’t even have the chance to wear all of their new clothes? This is just one of the many reasons why you may want to ask before you buy. This is unless, of course, your purchases are intended to be surprises.

Seeking a list of needed items for your new grandchild is ideal, especially if your purchases will be sent home with them. With that in mind, you will find that you have a little bit more freedom with items that will be staying in your own home. Perhaps, it is first important to cover the necessity bases. These are items that you will need to have in your home, should your grandchild regularly visit for extended periods of time. Items that all newborns and infants need include diapers, baby wipes, food, an extra bottle or sippy cup, and a few changes of clothes.

Once you have purchased the items that will be, without a doubt, needed for when your grandchild comes for a visit, you may want to focus on the extras. These are items, such as toys, that you don’t necessarily need to own, but can benefit from having on hand. It is always a good idea to purchase a number of toys for your grandchild. These toys do not have to be large in size or expensive in price. Traditional building blocks and stacking toys are great for newborns and infants, as well as board books, which are strong and durable.

The above mentioned items are just a few of the many that you will want to look into buying for your new grandchild. As a reminder, unless you will be taking on the role of childcare provider, a simple drawer full of clothes, toys, and other needed supplies should be enough items to have for your grandchild at your home.

If you just recently learned that you will be a grandparent, your main focus should be placed on your son or daughter. Even planned pregnancies can be overwhelming for new parents. The good news is that there are a number of different ways that you can offer assistance. For instance, you can plan a baby shower for the new mom, you can purchase new baby necessities, such as clothing, baby formula, or diapers, or your can help to set up baby’s nursery. Before taking any action, however, you may want to see, from your son or daughter, where your services are most needed.

During the birth of your grandchild, you will find a number of opportunities to be helpful and offer your assistance. As with extending your help before the birth of a baby, you may want to devise a plan with your son or daughter. Will your services be needed in the delivery room or elsewhere? If your daughter or daughter in-law has the delivery of your grandchild already planned, your services may be best used at their home. For example, you could straighten up their home to ensure they come home to a clean and pleasant environment, help to cook meals, or pick up last minute baby supplies.

After the birth of your grandchild, you will still want to offer your help and assistance to your son or daughter in anyway possible. This may involve running errands, offering your services as a babysitter, and so forth. With that in mind, you may want to shift the majority of your focus onto your new grandchild. To have a happy and successful relationship with your new grandchild, you will want to start the bonding process as soon as possible. Even if you aren’t asked to baby-sit, you should still take steps to visit your new grandchild, even for just a few minutes.

The above mentioned steps are just a few of the many that you may want to take as a grandparent. As time passes, you will still want offer your help and assistance to your son or daughter and your grandchild. In fact, your help, guidance, and assistance will be just as valuable as it was the day that your grandchild was born.

Nursery
When you go to register for your baby’s nursery you will probably see a lot of dollar signs. There are all kinds of themed, fancy bedding sets that can cost you hundreds of dollars. That is on top of the cost you have for the crib, dresser, changing table and other furniture items you may choose to buy. In reality the expensive crib bedding will do you little good. It is recommended that you do not use soft comforters and blankets as they can increase the chance of SIDS. Your baby will definitely need sheets and a bumper to protect his head as he starts moving around (before he can sit up), but you can pick up those items very inexpensively, and save the rest of your money for the diapers you are sure to need! 

A crib can be another expensive item. A choice that is growing in popularity is buying a crib that can convert from a crib into a toddler bed. You can even find cribs that convert from a toddler bed into a twin or full size bed for when your baby gets bigger. These are nice because it saves you money down the road when your baby starts eating you out of house and home, and you have school costs piling up.

You can also save money by purchasing a dresser that has an area for changing your baby on top, or one that you can put a pad on to help you change your baby. This cuts out the cost of the changing table that you will not use much probably after your baby’s first birthday. As your baby enters toddler hood and is running and busy you will find that it is often easier to just stop and change your baby where he is playing, or while he is standing, than it is to drag your baby from his toys to his room to change his diaper.

Necessities
While you may think that many things would be great to have, like a diaper wipe warmer, most are actually unneeded and items you could cut out to save a little money. You will definitely need a car seat and stroller, and having a swing and bassinet is a great idea. However the little things like baby food organizers and special dishwasher items are things you can do without. With the exception of the car seat, check out consignment shops and yard sales for the bigger and more expensive items. Generally with a good cleaning, most items could be used again, safely for your baby. Also be sure to check out the recall list put out by the manufacturer of any product that you buy new.

Since your baby is going to grow so fast shopping for clothing at consignment shops, thrift stores or garage sales can save you a lot of money as well. Baby clothes can quickly cause you to go broke if you have to buy them new and because babies out grow them so fast your baby will probably only wear his outfits once or twice before they don’t fit. This is true for most people so you can normally find clean, almost new and sometimes even brand new with tag items at used clothing venues.

Diapers and Baby Food
Both diapers and baby food can be done much more naturally in an effort to keep the max amount of money in your pocket. Disposable diapers are very expensive and alone can take all your money. There are diapering options such as cloth diapering and flushable diapers that can save you a lot of money and some claim will cause less diaper rashes and discomfort for your baby.

Baby food is often around 50 cents a jar on the shelf. It is much more inexpensive to make your own by making extra dinner and using a blender and some breast milk to blend your own veggies and fruits from leftovers. As your baby gets older and stronger you can blend up meats and noodles as well to give to him. You can thin out store bought oatmeal and blend up rice to make your baby’s first cereals. If you choose to do organic food, which is already more expensive, then making your own baby food will save you even extra!

Breastfeeding vs. Formula
Cans of formula are very expensive and can easily be wasted if your baby doesn’t eat as much as you make, or you spill as you are preparing a bottle. Breastfeeding is nature’s way of feeding a baby that is not only the healthiest for the baby but is free! Breastfeeding is the best nourishment that you can give your baby. If you have to use formula be sure to sign up on all the formula websites and look for coupons. You will save a lot of money with coupons and freebies of formula that companies will send you.

Coupons
There are baby coupons in papers almost every Sunday. Whether it is for bath products, diapers or food, be sure to look for these coupons. In the long run the savings will add up! Ask your friends and neighbors to clip their baby coupons for you, or if they don’t clip coupons, ask them if they will give you their batch of coupons. Watch for sales at stores on products you have coupons for, and even watch for stores to do double and triple coupon offers. Take advantage of every money saving offer you can.