Always buy one or two sizes up and just fold the cuffs and pant legs. The rate at which they grow into them outweighs the look but babies always look cute anyway. If you buy name brand clothes you can always re-sell them on Ebay. Pumpkin Patch and OshKosh sell easily. A lot of people would not consider going into a second hand store but you would be surprised at what you can find and sometimes the items are brand new. At birthdays, while they are young and don't know the difference, ask family or friends to buy clothes instead of toys. Learn to sew!!
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Hi- Garage sales and supermarket noticeboards are great for baby bargains and toys also. Aldi nappies are good. But so are Snugglers by the box load from Big W. We learnt to buy everything in bulk once we had kids- washing powder, nappies, wipes,...all from Big W. You will always be ripped off for smaller packaging. Keep your eye on Chemist specials too for vitamins, prescriptions, baby needs - keep all chemist receipts for tax time- you get a refund on these as a parent if you have forked out a certain amount ($1500 (?)which seriously adds up unbelievably quickly for your family)- Talk to your tax advisor/ accountant. Make sure you ask for practical gifts for your baby at birthdays/ Christmas time (clothes for instance) or get grandparents/ siblings to all put in some money at that time for more expensive buys you need. When bub is old enough for food, find a spare hour to cook and puree all their favourite vegies and freeze them in meal sized lots...this is so much cheaper, and even grandparents could help with this one. Carrot, corn, pumpkin, sweet potato, potato, beetroot, cheese....any nice sweet yummy foods they will love. Congrats and All the best...Peta.
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Also Miranda- if you can, join a mum and bubs group...they can be so-o-o very helpful for advice and helping you feel "normal"...avoid guilt trips though, if anyone tries this on you. Stay strong. Your love for the bub is the most important thing. Not what you buy/ don't buy for bub...
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When I was first pregnant I can remember standing in the baby aisle at the supermarket looking totally bewildered. An older woman came up to me and said "You know, you don't need most of this stuff. A warm facewasher and some baby powder do most of it". And you know what? She was right. I never forgot what she said and so resisted the urge to spend heaps of my budget on baby this and baby that; it simply isn't necessary! And that meant that I could spend that little extra on baby groceries.
One other way I saved money was to resist the urge to buy new clothes and toys for my kids. I found that friends would give them new and shiny teething rings and toys and relatives gave new clothes for birthdays, so I gave them simple household implements to play with and shopped at second hand stores for clean, durable clothes. I can still remember my friend being surprised to find my son happily getting his gums around a plastic measuring cup! Once the second hand clothes had become too small, I always passed them back to the charity store; it was nice to think that their useful cycle would start again.
So I guess the message is this; look for other ways to save money and then you'll have a bit more in the food budget!
Good luck!
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Buy Lucas PawPaw Cream from the Chemist - either a tube or a tub and use it as Nappy Rash Cream, as the baby grows use it as a Magic cream that fixes everything, we put it on cuts and scrapes, insect bites, bumps and bruises, use it for sore bums and my kids are now 6 and 4.
Also, buy some ice cube trays from Tupperware (the ones that come with lids) and cook up baby food in bulk, fill each ice cube with mashed sweet potato or pumpkin or pureed fruit etc and then just pop out a couple of cubes when it comes to feeding time, saves money on store bought food and tastes better as well.
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Charity shops have some lovely clothes too. And toys. Some Libraries also have toys loans that can save you buying them yourself. Aldi nappies are way cheaper - about $15 for 56 rather than $40 for box (can't rememeber quantity - but about 50). They are great also. Most other things you can get on ebay - bottles etc. I agree making your own food is the way to go and it is not only cheaper but better for them. As is breastfeeding if our lucky enough. Another if you need formula is don't but the Gold brand which they all sell. It is about $26 as opposed to $18 for the original formula - and there is hardly any difference in the content - they just make you feel like your a better mum if you buy the gold label one. Factory outlets for Bonds can be cheaper too. THey will grow really fast so don't expect more than few months in a size. Enjoy being a mum!
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A great big thank you to the Ipswich City Council for having me out in April to speak with the community about money management. Your Mayor and council are to be congratulated for their wonderful intiatives in your community. I was delighted to be asked to present to you all, it was wonderful to meet so many of you!
Congratulations also to those who "stepped up" and attended the Back to Basics workshop as part of the Money Master Class series.
The GFC, rising interest rates and general cost of living, combined with the floods in January have put some you in difficult circumstances. I trust that you will use the information from the seminars to help you get back on track.
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