By Wendy Mihm | April 13, 2011

What if you had a way to request that your close (and I do mean close) family and friends contributed to your child’s education fund as a birthday gift?

Now, I know it’s rife with the potential for being tacky, but hear me out on this, because I’ve come up with a new idea that just might work, and could even be fun.

It’s called the “Where Did You Go To School Game?” and in the sample letter below, I’ve written about it with the underlying assumption that you are saving for your child’s college education, and are writing the letter to someone who has attended college.

Note that the game could also be used if you were saving for any type of education – private high school tuition, vocational school, etc.— have a look.

Sample College Fund Contribution Request Letter

Dear { fill in Friend / Loved One's Name }

{Child’s Name’s} Birthday is coming up on {date} and we’re planning a party for her, which we hope will be great fun! Of course you’re invited and will receive an invitation soon.  We hope your family will be able to celebrate with {Child’s Name} again this year!

I’m writing to give you a heads up on a new tradition we’ve started with {Child’s Name} to emphasize the importance of college, and education in general. You have always been thoughtful and beyond generous with her gifts each year, and so I thought you might want to participate.  We have been contributing to a college savings fund for {Child’s Name} for quite some time.  But now that she is about to turn {fill in child’s age} we have started to teach her a little about how important and fun college can be.  This is all done in a very fun and playful way, of course!

In lieu of a traditional gift, one way to participate in our new tradition would be to make a (very modest) contribution to {Child’s Name’s} college fund as her birthday gift.  In addition, it would be really fantastic if you could share a story with her about one of your favorite (G-rated!) experiences in college, and perhaps add a small trinket like a keychain or stickers from your alma matter, {fill in name of college.}

Please feel no pressure to participate whatsoever—participation in our new tradition is completely optional!  If you’d rather skip it, that’s absolutely fine too – really.  It is a brand new thing we’re experimenting with, and we will not be offended in the least if you decide to pass.  I just wanted to give you the option to play along if you wanted to.

I hope your family is all healthy, happy and as much fun as ever – keep on the lookout for a party invitation on its way to your mailbox in the next few days!

Love,

{Insert Family Name}

So that’s the idea.  It still leaves room to back out. 

It also leaves room for the letter recipient to be creative with a fun story about his or her college experiences and for him or her to buy a relatively traditional toy if they do decide to participate – many colleges and universities sell just about everything, including children’s clothing and toys, with the school logo or mascot printed on it.

Having said that, going this route is still treading on untested ground and should be done with extreme caution. 

You should only send a letter like this to close friends and family – these should be people who have a history of giving your children gifts.  Let me be extra clear:  If the person has never given your child a gift, they should NOT receive this letter!  Remember, when you send this letter out, you’re making the assumption that the recipient is already planning to buy your child a gift.

But on the flip side, many people struggle with ideas for what to give the birthday boy or girl every time they receive an invitation to a child’s party, so receiving a letter like this may actually be a relief.

So let’s hear it – what do you think? Beautifully brilliant or terribly tacky?

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By Wendy Mihm | March 28, 2011

If you are expecting a baby, one of the largest and most important baby items you’ll need is the stroller.  But, if you’re a savvy mom-to-be, you’ll ask yourself the question “How many strollers do I need?” before you register.  That way, you can think through this crucial and expensive item, get it on your registry, and let your friends, family and co-workers pool their resources to buy you the ones that best suit your family’s lifestyle.

Here are some key things to consider about your lifestyle, and some smart strategies for anyone about to make room for baby.

Check In With a Friend
First and foremost, don’t try to do this alone!  Certainly a girlfriend or family member ventured into motherhood before you!  As I suggest in another FinancialRx article called Choosing Baby Gear, it’s a great idea to tour a girlfriend’s house that already has a baby – preferably one who is at least 6-12 months into parenthood—so she’s beyond the early haze of sleeplessness and discombobulation!  She can tell you all about the strollers she really uses versus the ones that look pretty (and cost a fortune) but stay in the closet.

Consider Your Own Lifestyle
Second, go through the following checklist and relate the questions realistically to your lifestyle, your needs and wants as they relate to how you’ll use the stroller.  You’d be surprised at how closely your use of a stroller, or strollers reflects your lifestyle.  Answers to these questions will help you to understand whether just one stroller will meet your needs or whether you require specialty strollers to accommodate your lifestyle.

Ok, here goes.

The Stroller Lifestyle Checklist

Let’s start with the assumption that this is your first child and stick with single strollers for now.  Later we’ll move on to a discussion of latter children and double strollers.

• If this is your first child, you may want to consider the ever-popular Snap N Go stroller, which is great for the first 6 to 12 months of your baby’s life, depending on how big your baby is and how quickly he or she grows.  This is basically just a frame with a really big (wonderfully big) basket underneath that you clip the infant car seat into.  It’s light, durable, collapses easily and steers easily too.

• Do you live in a densely urban, suburban or a rural setting?

Let’s discuss the urban dwellers and their needs first. You’ll probably be using the stroller on bumpy sidewalks to get to a subway station, a bus line, metro, or subway station.  You’ll need to navigate it frequently through turn styles, busy sidewalks, elevators and cross walks.  Here are some features to look for:

• The ability to maneuver the stroller with one hand.

• The ability to collapse the stroller with one hand.  You never know when a bus driver will demand that you collapse your stroller before you board the bus – and you have to unload all that stuff in the basket and hold you baby at the same time!

• Good, sturdy wheels that can handle difficult terrain.

• Lightweight – you will carry this thing more times than you can count (with and without your baby in it).

• A good sized basket that’s relatively easy to access because you probably also do your shopping on foot.

• Weather shield if you are in a 4-season climate.

• Not too large because you may not have a ton of extra space in your house or apartment.

• Bonus:  it can stand on it’s own when collapsed, so you can prop it up on a corner somewhere in a tiny restaurant or at home.

Ok, let’s talk about our suburban and rural dwellers.  You’ll probably be using the stroller for walks around your own neighborhood or subdivision, if you live in one.  You will also frequently pack it into the car for trips to the mall, to restaurants or other shopping centers.  Here are some features to look for:

• Easy collapsibility because you’ll be doing this a lot.

• The ability of the stroller to fit into your trunk easily when it’s collapsed.

• Size: make sure the stroller doesn’t feel too bulky to fit through store aisles.

• Easy maneuverability.

Now let’s move onto our runners.  If you’re a runner you’ll quickly realize that you cannot run with a regular stroller. You need a jogging stroller. A typical jogging stroller has all-terrain wheels, a hand brake, a sun shade for the child and a fixed front wheel, though some newer models have come out with a front wheel that swivels.  They can be expensive, so Craigslist is a great way to go for this second stroller.

Ok, let’s revisit the original question: “How many strollers do I need?” My advice would be to first get the one that addresses most of your lifestyle needs as identified above.  Live with your baby in that stroller for a few months, then assess any remaining gaps.  For example, if you’re a suburbanite that found you primarily use your stroller for long walks in your neighborhood and you have the perfect stroller for that, but wish you just had an additional, inexpensive, lighter stroller for when you have to run out for a few quick errands, maybe you consider adding an umbrella-type stroller to the mix. 

I would just caution against registering for multiple strollers right away, before you even have your baby.  Register or buy just one first.  Then assess later – you will know so much more 6 months or a year from now than you can ever imagine!  And the time will fly…

Strollers for Second or Later Children

If this is not your first child, you may wish to consider adding a double stroller to the mix.  Double strollers come in many different configurations: side-by-side, “stadium stacked,” and sit-and-stand.  See descriptions below.

• If this is your second or later child, is your next oldest child older than 10 months now?  You may want to consider the double stroller to be a sit-and-stand stroller, which gives the older child the option of sitting or standing, and an easier way to get in and out.  The younger child is typically strapped into the more traditional seat in front, but the seat in the back can be either just a bench that the older child can sit on, kneel on or stand above.  Or on most models, you can snap a more traditional cloth seat over the bench and the older child can sit more comfortably in the rear seat as well. The down side of these strollers is that they are long, large, cumbersome, harder to maneuver in tight spaces like stores, and the basket below is often fairly small and can be tough to access, particularly when both children are seated.

• If your children are very close in age or are twins, you may consider the side-by-side double stroller for two reasons: reviewers claim that they are easier to steer than the in-line double strollers (like the sit-and-stand ones or the ones where the children are both seated, one behind the other) and that the basket below is easier to access.  Having said that, if you plan to do any shopping with this stroller at all, be aware that very often, the side-by-side stroller will not even fit in the door!  And even if you can get it in the door, it won’t fit through the aisles. This is a very big negative in my book. Try before you buy.

• If your children are very close in age or are twins, you may consider the inline double stroller as an alternative to the side-by-side double stroller. On the plus side, you’ll be able to fit in the door anywhere you go, on the negative side, these strollers are more of a challenge to steer, so test drive as many models as you can at the store or at a friend’s house before you register or buy.  Also make sure you can fit it into your trunk when it’s collapsed, as these can be heavy and bulky.

• For lack of a better term, the “stadium seating” or “stacked” double stroller can be a good solution for a wider range of kids, as this category of stroller is newer, constantly evolving, and often includes the option to snap a car seat in and out of one of the seats.  In the negative column is price – these are expensive! But if you’re getting friends and colleagues to pool their resources into one big ticket item, and this is not your first baby, or you’re expecting twins, it might be worth your time to research one of these as your big ticket item. They’re flexible, maneuverable, they tend to be lightweight, collapsible and all-around excellent double strollers.

Even if you are an experienced mom, I would still recommend that you wait to see what gaps emerge after your next baby arrives, rather than buying multiple new strollers before the new child arrives.  For example, if you currently have one child and another is on the way, I would not recommend that you buy a new single stroller for your new baby and a double stroller for both kids.  I would recommend that you get the single stroller now, because you’ve been around that block and know what you want!  Then I when your baby arrives and you get settled in with him or her and see how your older child adjusts, go out and test a few double strollers with both kids.  You’ll know a lot more by then about how the two behave around each other, how big your older child is, and whether your older child will even want to sit in a stroller at all.

Strollers evolve and change constantly, and they are not cheap, so asking the question “How many strollers do I need?” is a savvy one to ask up front.  Best of luck in your search!

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By Wendy Mihm | February 28, 2011

These are our top picks for the 10 best websites for Moms. 

Here you’ll find great bargains, spots to take a break, regain your sanity, find a job and maybe even make a friend.

ThredUp
Now THIS is brilliant – it’s an online children’s clothing and toy reseller. At ThredUp, you browse through boxes of used kids clothes and toys, buy a box for $5 + $10.95 USPS shipping, and your box is delivered in a few days. You can post your own box of used clothes and toys, and when another member picks your box, ThredUp will arrange to send it, 100% free of charge. They provide boxes, postage, and even schedule the pick-up.

RantsFromMommyLand
Kate & Lydia have 6 kids, 2 husbands, 1 ex husband, a geriatric dog, a surly cat, a blog, a lot of boxed wine & a desire to giggle about things that are stupid. Read it, and realize you are not alone.

PlumDistrict
This is a membership website that scours local deals and sends the best one to you via email each day.  Plus, if you go to their site, you can see a continuously-scrolling list of deals geared toward moms.  This can include things like photography package deals, spa sessions, apparel, eco-friendly cleaning services and more.

ParentHacks
Moms love this blog because it provides useful, down-to-earth tips that they can use in real-world situations.  Writer Asha Dornfest has earned a top spot in Babble.com’s Top 50 bloggers of 2010 because she skips inane tips like “make your own wipes” that no human mother really has the time or energy to do, and focuses on real solutions that work.

MomCorps
A national staffing firm that connects progressive employers with experienced moms looking for flexible jobs. The site includes job listings and a place to post your resume.

Punchbowl
A sleek, modern party planning website that helps you with everything from planning the food and to invitations, to managing the guest lists and party favors.  Very ‘Real Simple.’  Looks like a lot of fun to use!

Sendomatic
An e-invitation site similar to Evite, only without the ads!  You can send to as many as 10 email recipients for free, or pay $7.95 for 11-50 recipients, or pay a few dollars more for additional if your list is larger.  They have hundreds of designs to choose from, they are particularly good at retro styles, they include high-tech map functionality, and most designs include kitchy music too.  I just used Sendomatic for my Mom’s surprise birthday party and got rave reviews.

Baby Center Momformation Blogs
If you’re a mom, you no doubt already know about Baby Center, but if you have not have stumbled on their blogs yet, they are worth a peek, if only for their posts on time-saving and organization.  I’ve road tested a few and they’re pretty darn good.

MommySavers
This site is a little cluttered, but there’s something there for everyone:  coupons, a book with moneysaving tips, seasonal craft ideas, parenting tips, a community forum and more.

EWG’s Sunscreen Guide
Remember all that hoopla in the media about harmful sunscreens?  This guide will help you decide which sunscreens to dump and which to keep—not the most glamorous pick, but a necessary and useful resource for keeping your family safe.

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By Wendy Mihm | February 15, 2011

I’ve scoured the internet, spoken with my Mom friends and compiled a list of the best bargain spots for Moms.  Because Moms tend to make the majority of purchases for many households – from food, clothing, and equipment to décor, durable goods, games, electronics, toys and gifts, these can be any sorts of bargains.

You’ll see that the list below includes a wide range of best bargain spots for Moms.  With one exception, they all have this in common:  each consistently offers solid pricing to their customers.

I have included the following information about each retailer. 
Who: the name (which is clickable to the retailer’s website).
What:  a short definition of the retailer and what they have to offer.
Specialty: what that retailer is most well known for.
Moms Love: what the Moms I spoke with or read about seem to like best. 

They are not listed in any particular order.

Who:  Costco
What: “Big box” brick and mortar and online retailer.
Specialty:  Low prices on bulk items.
Moms Love:  They can count on Costco for staple items like diapers, wipes and formula in bulk at rock-bottom prices.  They also love to search for Costco treasures because Costco rotates items in and out relatively quickly – what you see on the shelf in one trip may not be there the next time you go, especially if it is a seasonal item.

Who:  Zulily.com
What: Online “daily deals for moms, babies and kids” by membership only.  You must sign up to have access to these deals on apparel and baby and toddler gifts.
Specialty:  Discounts on unique, upscale designer brands.
Moms Love:  They gain access to upscale designer brands that might otherwise be out of reach due to the price.  Daily emails notify them of sales that come and go quickly, but you must act fast because the most beautiful items go out of stock sometimes literally within an hour. 

Who:  Diapers.com
What: Online retailer for maternity, baby and toddler items.
Specialty:  One-stop shopping for everything you could possibly want related to your pregnancy, baby or toddler.
Moms Love:  Fast, free shipping on any order over $49.  This site is connected with sister sites Soap.com and BeautyBar.com.  If you combine your purchases with either of these other sites, you get free shipping with orders of $25 or less.  Free returns.  Great customer service.

Who:  ShopItToMe.com
What: Online automated personal shopper by membership only.
Specialty: Identifies sales on your favorite brands of apparel, in your specific size, and emails you when they become available.
Moms Love: You can choose the brands you want to hear about, and how often you want to receive emails.  Then, when a brand you love is marked down in your size (or your child’s size), you hear about it when you want to.  It’s also easy to add or delete designers or change email frequency any time.

Who:  RetailMeNot.com
What:  Online coupon code warehouse.
Specialty:  Lists top coupon codes.
Moms Love: The coupon code is listed front and center so you can either copy and paste it back into the site you were already in, or you can click on the code and go use it from their site.  In many cases, they also list the expiration date up front as well.

Who: The Right Start
What: Brick and mortar and online retailer of infant and toddler products
Specialty: Narrows down the field to the top choices.
Moms Love: That some of the work has been done for them.  The Right Start does not offer every baby and toddler product ever made.  They cull through and offer what they find to be the top products and eliminate the rest.

Who:  Target
What: Brick and mortar and online retailer.  Offers some “big box” items
Specialty: Upscale feel for downscale prices.
Moms Love:  One stop shopping, reasonable prices on clothing for kids and even a fun purchase or two for themselves.  Note this phenomenon:  a Mom at a park might compliment another Mom on her scarf or other item of clothing.  To which the receiver of the compliment might respond “Thanks!” And then in a hushed, but proud tone “I got it at Target!”  I have heard this exchange at least a half dozen times.  I have never heard the exchange when the store mentioned was Wal Mart or Costco.  Have you?

Who:  Zappos.com
What: Online shoe retailer that has expanded to apparel, bags, housewares, accessories and more.
Specialty: Shoes, shoes and more shoes.  They have an incredible selection.
What Moms Love: Free shipping and returns – no questions asked, plus a 365 day return policy lets you choose your purchases without fear that you won’t like them.

Who:  MomFinds.com
What: Website/Blog featuring top picks for trendy maternity, baby and toddler apparel.  There is also a subscription function that sends alerts to your inbox.
Specialty:  Not a bargain site, MomFinds.com focuses instead on stylish and trendy clothes, often modeled after celebrities and their babies.  They do, however, break down their listings by price.
What Moms Love:  The dishy delivery, the gorgeous finds, and the ability to find out where to get the t-shirt you saw Halle Barry’s kid wearing in People Magazine.

Who: CouponMom.com
What: Online coupon warehouse accessible by membership only.
Specialty:  Tailored coupons by geographic area and restaurant coupons.
Moms Love: The ability to select the type of coupons, such as free samples, restaurant coupons, drugstore deals, etc.

So that’s our list of best bargain spots for Moms!  Hope you got some fresh ideas and inspiration from the list.

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By Jennifer Emery | January 28, 2011

Choose the Right Photographer for You

To spend your money wisely on baby portrait sessions the first item of business is to choose a photographer whose work speaks to you. Remember, your child is only a baby once, so looking for a deal is great, but skimping on quality in an effort to find the best price alone may defeat your purpose of capturing those precious, fleeting moments of babyhood.  Also, look for a photographer who guarantees their work and is insured.

Consider Timing Photos to Baby’s Stages

The next thing to consider is when best to schedule the photo sessions.

Infancy: When they are a few days or a few weeks old, it’s sweet to get detail photos of all their little fingers and toes and tiny little selves.  You will be amazed at how quickly they change, and you will be grateful years later that you captured these moments in time.

Three months: Around this time they start to sit up. This is another good time to schedule a session because when babies are able to sit up, there are many more variations in photos that can be accomplished.

Six months:  By now, they have changed so much from the little infant they once were, into an expressive, laughing, cooing little being.  It can be wonderful to capture all their facial expressions and each new thing they can do.

Nine months to one year: Once they start crawling and walking, they are very proud of themselves and there are so many exciting moments to capture now that they’re on the move!

What To Look for in a Baby Photo Session Package

I find that most of my clients want their photos on a CD so they can print the photos themselves. You should be willing to pay a little extra for this. Why?  Because in the long run, you can save quite a bit of money by printing the images yourself.  Plus you must remember that the photographer is running a business and he or she must make some money too, so getting that CD will cost a little more than a session that includes only prints.

What I often hear my repeat clients confess months or even years later, however, is that they pay extra for the CD with the photos on it and then never get around to actually printing the photos.  So before you do this, really think it through.  You may find that ordering prints from the photographer is your best bet for getting those images up on your wall while your baby is still a baby. Many photographers also offer photo products that you may not be able to make yourself, such as photo tins and custom designed albums, as well as custom prints that will be steps above those Costco prints you may order.

Bundling Baby Photo Sessions

Another way to save money on baby photos while also capturing all those moments from newborn to walking, is to find a photographer that offers “Life Sessions.” This is when a photographer offers a package that includes all four sessions mentioned above, timed to your baby’s developmental stages, and the bundles those sessions with some kind of an album at the end of the year, to document your child’s growth. I’ll be honest—this won’t be cheap, but the bundling option will be less expensive than doing the sessions and the album one by one.  Plus it will document your child’s one-and-only first year from birth to walking in an amazing, keepsake that you’ll have forever.

You can find out more about Jennifer’s photography at: pbjcandids.com

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By Wendy Mihm | Tuesday January 4, 2011

Choosing baby gear for your first baby can be a daunting task.  How are you supposed to know what items you really need if you’ve never cared for an actual baby?  It’s tricky, and the companies who sell baby gear would have you believe that you need it all.  The truth is, there is a lot that you can do without.

FinancialRx has some strategies to help you figure out what you really need, and what you can skip.  This is key, because it can save you both money and space.  The space thing may not seem like a big deal if you live in a large house or apartment.  However, you’ll be shocked at how quickly you amass endless piles of stuff for this child, and how fast all that space disappears.

Here’s the FinancialRx strategic approach to choosing baby gear.

Tour a Fellow Mom’s House Before You Set Up Your Baby Registry

Set up a date with a friend who has ventured into motherhood before you – preferably one with a baby who is 6 to 12 months old.  She will have fresh knowledge of everything you need, but won’t be so new as to still be sleep-deprived and ovewhelmed.

Bring a notebook and ask to tour each room that has changed since the baby arrived.  This will likely include the baby’s room, the kitchen and possibly a bathroom and/or a playroom.  Some people go all-out and baby-proof their whole house while others are less gung-ho.  But you can get a good sense of what they found necessary and what got relegated to the closet, just by listening and observing their home.

I did this and not only was it incredibly valuable, but it was fun for both my New-Mom-Friend and for me.  She was so excited to share her knowledge (and to speak to another adult human after months at home with an infant) that she made me tea and lunch and we spent a wonderful afternoon together.  Since then, I have done the same thing for three other friends – and I enjoyed it all three times.

Consider Your Lifestyle Before Setting Up Your Baby Registry

Companies that sell baby items, like BabiesRUs, Giggle, The Right Start, etc. all have generic baby registries.  But that’s the thing:  they’re generic.  And the companies are hoping that you will just blindly click on everything and have people buy you a bunch of things you don’t need.  But then you’re stuck storing a bunch of things you’ll use once or twice, and then give away.  That is not money well spent.  As you consider your lifestyle, ask yourself questions like these:

• Are you hoping to breastfeed and are you planning to go back to work soon?  You may need a breast pump and a milk storage system.
• Do you drive a lot?  Consider the weight and collapse-ability of your stroller-of-choice.
• Do you take public transportation or live in a dense city?  Consider the width of your stroller and it’s maneuverability.  Also take note of the size and accessibility of the basket underneath if you plan to run errands and store shopping bags with your stroller. (Hint: you will!)
• What sort of climate do you live in?  Do you need rain or snow attachments for your stroller?
• Do you plan to travel a bunch? You will get plenty of use out of a pack-and-play so your baby has a safe and cozy place to sleep while on the road.
• Will you be traveling by airplane?  A canvas car seat bag may be very useful.
• Are you planning to “wear” your baby? Start reading up on baby carriers. But if you get one, leave the tags on and test it with your child after he or she arrives to make sure it’s a fit for both of you—some babies love these, others absolutely do not!.
• Every Mom needs a diaper bag, but you should test out a few before you buy.  Remember, fashion is nice, but function is everything.  And I’ll give you two key things to consider:  pockets and spills.
• Planning to swaddle your baby? Those swaddling blankets with the velcro or zippers make it a lot tougher for those little buggers to bust out in the middle of the night…
• Remember, you can’t drive home from the hospital without an infant car seat.
• Think ahead:  many infant car seats are only useful until your baby reaches 20 pounds, which occurs roughly around the year mark (but this can vary a lot).  You may wish to register for the next level car seat, which typically faces forward in the car.

Limit the Baby Registry to Big Ticket Items

It’s tempting to add cute clothes and toys to your baby registry as you are choosing baby gear, but you’ll get these anyway. To get the most bang for your buck, focus in on the big-ticket items that you learned you really need when you toured your friend’s house and considered your lifestyle.  That way your friends and family’s dollars will go the longest way toward getting you the items that will get the most use.  Because the toys and clothes are so irresistible to buy, I guarantee you will get those anyway.

Putting some effort now into strategically choosing baby gear can help your baby registry dollars go farther.  And as you start to realize just how expensive child rearing really is, you’ll see that money saved today can be money well spent tomorrow. 




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By Wendy Mihm | Wednesday November 17, 2010

Congratulations on your new baby!

If you are a first-time parent, nothing can prepare you for how much your new baby will change your perspective on life.  The funny thing is, everybody probably tried to tell you, but a message of that depth is impossible to relay – you have to experience it yourself.  You have to hold that baby, smell her, hold his skin against yours, recognize that one-and-only cry from down the hospital hallway and proudly exclaim, “Here comes my baby!”

You have some exciting times ahead, and some very expensive ones.  As I write this, my youngest is just 20 months old, so I am not so far removed from this experience. I know that you are probably quite overwhelmed, sleep-deprived and not ready for anything really hard-hitting, so I’ll keep the list short, sweet and simple.  Here are six quick, perhaps unexpected tips to save money on your baby.

1. Hold Back on Gorgeous Baby Clothes.

I know this is really hard to do, but there are several good reasons for it.  First, people will give them to you anyway.  Second, babies grow incredibly fast, so buying tons of beautiful clothes for them at this young age makes very little financial sense.  You will be storing them away – or giving them away —sooner than you think and it will break your heart.  This happened to me a lot.  People gave me these super-precious outfits (some with matching hats that neither of my kids would keep on their heads) that my babies wore no more than twice before they had to be laundered and stored away.  Then because my kids are opposite genders, I ended up giving everything away.  Finally, fancy baby clothes are notoriously over-priced.  Why?  Because makers of beautiful baby clothes know that new moms are incredibly enamored with their new babies and will often over-spend on them.

If you want buy your child a few nicer outfits, wait until they are about 3 years old.  At that point, their growth slows down quite a bit, and they can wear the same clothes for a year or more and your money is better spent.  And believe me, this child will turn three in the blink of an eye.

2.  Discover Craigslist*.

I don’t know, maybe we were too snobby for Craiglist with our first baby, but we were practically Craigslist Disciples by the time our second kid came along, and it saved us a bundle.  Babies are babies for such a fleeting time that their things don’t get much wear and tear, and you can get excellent bargains from other people on everything from musical bouncy seats and play mats, to strollers and bath tubs.  Just make sure you find a seller that includes a photo of the item(s) for sale and that they describe the item as “clean” and in “excellent condition.”  You might also email the seller to ask what year she purchased the product to make sure you’re getting something that’s just a year or two old, rather than something that was dug out of someone’s garage after having been stored for 8 years. 

*I would like to add one addendum to this tip, based on the comment provided by Jemifus, below:  be sure not to obtain your child safety products from Craigslist or any other used source, with the exception of extremely close family or friends.  This is particularly true for car seats, which you must be absolutely sure have not been in an accident before you use them with your child, as an accident can cause the plastic or other materials in the seat to deteriorate and not function properly at the moment of impact.

3.  Kiss Up to Friends for Hand-Me-Downs.

Certainly you have some friends who have older babies or toddlers, yes?  If you suspect that they are done having children, now is the time to suck up to them and ask to borrow their kids clothes and shoes as hand-me-downs for your baby.  If they say yes, be sure to thank them with something nice like a pretty kitchen candle, even though they will be happy to do it, I assure you.  We happen to have two friends who had baby boys about 7 months after we had our son.  It’s fantastic for me because I don’t have to store anything!  Every few months, I just divide his outgrown items into two bags and deliver them to our friends.  I really love getting the stuff out of our house and knowing it’s going to good use “in the family,” so it’s a win-win-win!

4.  Don’t Skimp on Diapers. 

I know this sounds counter-intuitive for a financial advice columnist to tell you to buy the expensive diapers, but it’s worth it.  Yes, the store brands are cheaper – in the short run.  But in my experience, and in the experience of my friends, they simply do not work as well. They leak both urine and poop.  And these poop leaks can be, ummm, dramatic.  Like, up the back and into the hair.  Cleaning poop out of your child’s hair – and off the carpet, the drapes, the changing pad, the baby’s clothes, and the crib sheets – costs time, money and sanity.  Plus the Velcro tab things often break off of the generic diapers, so you end up having to throw the broken ones away – a total waste of money.  Try this method instead:  buy a small pack of the name brand diapers – we really liked Pampers and Huggies—and find out which ones work best for your baby.  Then buy in bulk later at a place like Costco or Diapers.com.  But don’t buy too many size “N” (for newborn) or even size 1 diapers up front – they grow out of these very quickly and you may end up with a bunch that you never use.  Save the bulk purchases for when they are in larger sizes, like size 3 and up.

5.  Skip the Diaper Changing Table.

To save money on your baby, just put one of those curved changing pads on top of the dresser that you’re probably already going to put in your baby’s room.  The changing table is a piece of furniture that was invented by people who want to sell you baby products that you don’t need.

6.  Try Out Baby Bjorns, Slings or Other Carriers With Your Own Actual Baby Before Buying.

Your baby may love being carried in these.  Or she may hate it.  Make sure you find out before you buy.  I once spent $68 on a brand new, gorgeous baby sling (and that was the inexpensive one – the one I really wanted was over $200!). Then I spent an hour learning to use it with the included instructional DVD and even after weeks of trying, my infant son hated it.  He just was not that kid.  My daughter would have loved it as a baby, but alas, she was 3 years old and riding a Plasma Car by then so I sort of missed my window.  So I sold it on Craigslist at quite a loss.

So there you go: you’ve read our 6 quick and easy tips to save money on your baby!  Now go take a nap.

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