With baby number two due in just five weeks time I am conserving my own energy levels wherever and whenever possible, although this is not always easy to do with a bouncy, bubbly, two year old boy tearing around.
I am also aware from previous experience that energy usage around the household can increase enormously with the arrival of a new baby. Major contributors to this usage tend to be:
- The washing machine. In those first few months the laundry basket appears to take on a life of its own and is never, ever, empty! Muslins, baby-grows, blankets, bibs…they just keep coming.
- The tumble dryer. All that washing has to dry somewhere.
- The TV. A lot more evenings and afternoons curled up on the sofa, often too tired to move, tends to mean a sharp rise in time spent channel-hopping.
- The bath. Never will the bathtub see the amount of use it will see when a new baby arrives.
It would appear Casa B is not alone in this finding. New research by E.ON has revealed that most parents (64%) use more energy in the first two months of their little bundle’s arrival, with almost a fifth finding their energy use went up considerably.
This of course will have financial implications for the household budget.
As any new parent will know, this is not the only thing to make a serious dent in your wallet with the birth of your child. What about the gadgets? We all know Dads love the gadgets!
E.ON’s findings revealed that on average, new parents spend £700 on baby gadgets in the first two months after the arrival of their baby.
So, what can be done to try and stay in control of these escalating costs? Here are a few top tips for new parents:
- Review your energy tariff and make sure you are getting the best possible deal. (To find out more about E.ON’s simpler tariffs visit eonenergy.com).
- Try and avoid using the tumble dryer. Cutting down by one load a week could take around £30 off your electricity bill. If the sun is out use your washing line. If not make use of an indoor clothes horse. If you find you really need to put the dryer on give your washing an extra spin in the washing machine first-it will dry much faster.
- There will be lots of extra time spent awake at night. Try using energy efficient LED night-lights around the house instead of switching on the main lights at night.
- When bathing the baby use a small baby-tub or a baby bath divider. There is no need to fill the whole bathtub. Using a bath thermometer to get the temperature right will also save on using lots of hot water only to then have to cool it down.
- Ensure the room where your baby sleeps is draught free. Use of a simple draught excluder can be very effective and cheaper than dialing up the thermostat.
- Consider renting or hiring some baby gadgets rather than buying new. The NCT often run rental schemes and remember to check out any local ‘nearly-new’ sales.
E.ON are also offering one of my readers the chance to win a fabulous energy-saving new baby hamper, including a £100 Love to Shop Voucher.
I was lucky enough to receive one too and here it is…
The lucky winner will receive an identical hamper containing the following gorgeous goodies to help you with the arrival of your new baby:
- One Baby Dam bath divider.
- One Union Jack draught excluder.
- One Brother Max digital bath and room thermometer.
- Two Dryer Max Dryer Balls to help cut down tumble-drying time.
- Two 24hour manual plug-in timers.
- Two puppy night-lights.
- One Love to Shop Voucher worth £1oo!
To enter please use the Rafflecopter below AND leave me a comment sharing your best money-saving tip after the arrival of a new baby. Bonus entries can also be gained via the Rafflecopter in the usual ways.
Best of luck!
This prize draw has been shared on The Prizefinder UK, Competition Hunter and Di Coke’s Super Lucky Blog.
Disclosure: I have been supplied with the hamper featured in this post, containing the contents as stated, by E.ON Energy UK.
Meal plan for the rest of the family and once the baby is eating food then make your own instead of buying jars!
if you can breastfeed then do so, if you cant try express feeding with electric pumps or if you cant then buy a urn type thermos, that way you can boil the kettle just the once and always have hot water for babies bottles without using more energy to keep boiling the kettle.
Own brand nappies. I used Pampers for the first few years with my toddler. Only just found the joys of Tesco own brand. Just as good (if not better) and half the price.
Sharing baths! My children hated baby bath’s and I didn’t want to waste water by filling the big bath for them so either myself or my other half would bathe with our baby (It meant I got some relaxation time too!
making the same food for you and your baby and putting it into ice cube trays saving on baby jars of food
A washing machine with a large load capacity and super spin speed, set a clothes line in the garage if the weather is wet or damp to save on the tumble dryer costs.
With a 2 week old and a 16 month old I’d like to know lots of energy saving tips!! Not just electrical but physical too!!!
buy the must needed baby essentials in bulk and during shop sales- so you never have to keep on spending money each week!
My family have been very supportive and given me a lot of help with everything we need, so that has saved us money, but the best thing I have found is in the summer months just hanging out the washing rather then tumble drying is so much easier and saves an awful lot of money! Even in the winter when the heating is on it has helped dry the clothes quickly too!
freecycle- alot of people offer baby items etc they no longer need 🙂
Buy (& sell) toys on ebay
Sharing baths my baby lives playing in bath with his older brother 🙂
join baby clubs online i.e. Pampers, Cow and Gate etc.. they send you free gifts and vouchers tailored to your needs and can save you a lot of money.
Both my kids like a night light. Instead of a light in each room. I put one in the hall and leave the doors open
Make use of money-off coupons and shop around for the best prices on essentials.
Buy in bulk whenever possible – try sharing with friends
Use terry cotton nappies, disposable ones cost a fortune and are bad for environment
yes I would agree buy the best deals you can get when on offer
When buying clothes its cheaper to buy clothing bundles of sites such as gumtree.They are often like new and saves a lot of money.
Buy neutral baby clothes if your intending on having more.
Always freeze left over food and then you can use at a later date for your baby at lunch times
Reusable nappies, worked out much cheaper in the long run
share the baths
Wow brilliant tips guys!
Eco balls instead of washing powder on a 30 degree wash,it has saved me so much money and they last so long. I bought them because the baby has excema and they are better for his skin but realised how much i was paying out on detergents and i have now become more economical with everything.
toys/clothes etc given by friends/relatives best money saver for me
Check our the charity shops for baby clothes they are in them such a short space of time – you can find some real gems. Some shops will even put the next size to one side for you to look through if you donate your old ones each time 🙂
Best tip is not spend so much money on clothes prams etc. People tend to go overboard and its not needed.
USE CLOTH NAPPIES!
Dont feel embarrassed in taking old bits and pieces from friends and family who also have young children.
don`t waste money on expensive baby clothes as they are only in them for a short time, save the money and use it for a nice well earned holiday x
Don’t waste money on expensive baby clothes, they only poo and sick on them, get the cheap and cheerful supermarket clothes.
Dont go spending lots of money on brand new top of the range clothes and items when they grow out of them so quick!
go second hand chic !
ps when i read this post, all I saw was ‘win a new baby’…………….no thank you ! one new baby is sufficient for me !
Hope all goes well with your new arrival xx
I always use a flask for tea so it stays hot all day long and saves electricity.
share bath water
resell your baby cloths once they grow out of them so you can replacethem as they always are still in new condition because they grow so fast they hardly used
Buy second hand, toys are hardly used and still have lots of life in.
Clothing is also nearly new due to babies growing so fast.
Don’t buy too many ‘outfits’ my boy lived in baby grows!
save a pound a day it all adds up
Breast feeding is not only best for your baby it also saves on energy as you don’t have to wash bottles, boil water to make the milk or warm the bottles up before you feed.
Plan out all your meals carefully to avoid waste!
When my little one was born we didn’t have the time or energy to cook meals so ended up spending ridiculous amounts on tasteless ready meals. My advice would be to bulk cook and freeze healthy meals before the baby arrives so that you can quickly heat up a tasty and nutritious meal.
Dry laundry outside or on the radiator instead of using the dryer.
bring back log fires that’s how I used to dry my baby’s clothes or out in the fresh air. I am with eon and for todays society I find I save loads with them it’s all about turning off everything you are not using now. Once you get into the habit you can save hundreds of pounds xx
Ebay and Baby Sales!
dont buy shoes because they dont need them
Sell your junk to make space and money! You will need both when the baby arrives, so there is no better time to clear your clutter.Ebay is a great place for both selling and buying baby goods at cheaper prices!
turn off electrical items not leave on standby as this uses the same amount of energy as using them
Don’t buy to many clothes for the new born baby as more than likely they will grow out of them very fast and the clothes would go to waste
Use Freecycle
Cloth nappies, start to finish!
second hand clothes they are as good as new as so little wear in them
Ask friends & relatives for good quality baby clothes or products that they no longer require. My nephew & his girlfriend have hardly had to buy anything as friends & relatives have rallied round to help as my nephew was made redundant just days before the baby was born
Buy nappies when on offer or own brand x
try and dry all clothes outside on the washing line.
online shopping! easier to plan and shop around from your own home and will save lots!! another is buy supermarket brands for baby items there usually a lot cheaper and most of the time a lot better
shop around for the best deals and if things are on offer buy in bulk if possible.
buy second hand everything!
Always buy the next size up in babygrows as they last two minutes otherwise. I bought loads of baby stuff on Ebay.
Reusable wipes – wish I’d discovered them when I had my first child would have saved even more money!
I use cloth nappies and wipes. They do use extra energy but compared to buying disposables they work out a lot cheaper per year, plus you’re helping the environment by not adding to the landfills!
Look at freecycle website – has great stuff for nothing
take advantage and bulk buy special offers of baby wipes etc that will always be used
enter competitions and freebies
eBay!!!
only buy enough clothes that baby will wear them all, and dont buy many 1st size as you end up with these as presents
You don’t need to buy the top brands in baby things, the supermarkets own work just as well.
Aldi nappies and wilkos baby wipes!
Breast Feed!
Batch cook meals so you always have a “ready made meal” in the freezer
Dont spend a fortune on clothes. They grow out of them far to quickly and are much more comfortable in a babygrow
When you go on holiday dont buy the sites toys when you get there. Buy them online from auction sites for the fraction of the price before you go.
Don’t get carried away buying fancy products and equipment – babies don’t actually need much ‘stuff’ and outgrow things really quickly
Breastfeed!
re-use baby clothes and breast feed
breast feeding and cloth nappies
Buy baby products in bulk
Share a bath – it’s a great way to bond too!
Reusable nappies, but if its your 1st child or just your 1st go at reusables probably best to leave it a few months before trying so you don’t get put of
definitely having baths together, breast feeding, cloth nappy bums & making own meals instead of buying the jar foods
breast feed the milk is on tap and you dont have to wait for it to warm
If it baby #1, a lot of items can be bought on ebay instead of new so it is well worth a look.
buying in bulk and meal planning
Make your own food and sharing baths!!
Get everything you need second hand, alot of it is good as new and a fraction of the price.
Use hand me down toys/clothes
Grow your own veg and make your own baby food, it saves a fortune.
Buy the supermarket value nappies instead of brand names as most of them are made in the same factory!
I used to buy Huggies at £6.99 a packet but one day I thought I’d try Tesco Value Everyday Nappies at £1.41 a packet and they are FANTASTIC! I was so shocked! just because they are the cheapest doesn’t mean they are rubbish.
Buy clothes from charity shops.
make your own baby food and freeze it, x
Cloth nappies
if you plan to have more kids, invest in more gender-neutral colours like green, white or yellow. That way you can reuse them for any more new arrivals (without it being too obvious!)
Dont go mad on cute little outfits..chances are theyll be ruined or will never wear them xxx
Don’t buy too much it’s easy to get carried away
buy 2nd hand, charity shops, car boots.there are some great bits for amazing prices
Breast feeding and reuse able nappies
breastfeeding – got to be the best way to save money and give your child the best start x
use ebay and other auction sites. They were a godsend to me
Towards the end of your pregnancy – start making extra portions of dinners & freeze so that when the baby arrives you have lots of healthy, nutritious ready meals to heat up quickly & easily. Much cheaper and better for you than takeaways & shop bought ready meals.
feed your self, cloth nappies and when weaning make your own food (mainly what your eating )
Make meals from scratch.
charity shops –
buy re-useable nappies it saves loads of money!
Don’t keep all your babes clothes. Sell them and use the money to buy the next size stuff. Use Facebook selling pages to avoid ebay charges and people pick them up from your house. Bonus
Home made meals
Join a baby sitting circle
Let other people help! Whether that be making food or taking loads of washing for you
use cloth nappies! and wash with soap nuts
Make sure you de-clutter as you go along. We saved everything in our attic as we though we would used it again but then we didn’t. If you can sell it do so. Fashions change and the sooner you can sell it the more you will get.
breast feed
look for bargains on ebay
Cooking in bulk
Use hand me downs from friends and family. Babies only use the things for a very short while before growing out of them
Cloth nappies really are more economical. Also, check Freecycle – it’s amazing what you can find.
Would absolutely love to win this for my cousins new arrival, he is an absolute little cutie! <3
Dont get a nappy bin, there’s nothing wrong with putting nappies in your normal bin.
breastfeeding saves time energy and money
buy in bulk where you can
i used loads of tips when my daughter was born.. requested freebies and samples of all sorts of stuff including nappies and baby toiletries..looking online for money saving coupons.. buying things in bulk on sale., pureeing my own food instead if buying baby jars..the list goes on
Use cloth nappies instead of disposable nappies, saves a fortune
Get the best energy rated washing machine you can afford – you are going to need it!
Buy nappies and wipes in bulk to cut down the costs
Breastfeeding
My money saving tip would be – Use cloth! Both nappies and wipes. 🙂
A non judgmental MIL
Don’t buy all those cute clothes you are lusting over – they will grow out of them in a couple of weeks!
buy slightly larger size clothes and baby will get more wear out of them!
What a lovely competition! we have posted it onto our website so you will get alot more views.
Good luck with your fab competition.
buy large bundles of baby clothes on ebay etc as it saves so much money!!
Cloth nappies are definitely a great moneysaver.
Share the bath! Fun as well as saving money.
Own brand nappies are a must. Just as good as the main brands but a lot cheaper! Also make your own baby food. Healthier, cheaper and no nasties in the ingredients.
I have twins and the best advice I was given was to make all there foods with fresh ingrediants and freeze it x
stock up on essentials when they are on offer
I have always used Asda own brand nappies and when taking advantage of their 2 for £10 it really is a fab way to save money on an expensive essential! They are really good too, I have used them for all 3 children.
reuseable nappies! xxxx
visit almost new baby fares 🙂
use cloth nappies! hard work but worth it!
a big washing machine to do bigger loads less often
Make your own baby food, most family meals are suitable for blending and saves a fortune on bought jars.
Always try and get good quality second hand items from family and friends, a lot of things you will only use for a couple of months so you can save a fortune
borrowed a highchair,a baby rocker from a friend whos child out grew them,when my baby gets bigger i will return them to her so she can sell them
Breast feed and use cloth nappies.
I think my best tip would be dont make too much food. I know it looks like its not enough when you put it in a bowl for a baby but their stomaches are tiny …. you can always make more if they eat it all whereas too much is just waste.
Stock up on buy one get one free offers before baby comes along. For feeding dad and yourself visit the reduced aisle in the grocery store.
Recycle old baby clothes
I bulk cook and freeze. The same effort and energy to cook 3 Lasagne’s or Shepherds pies as 1 and freeze the other 2
Look on eBay or Facebook selling pages for baby clothes, there’s no point spending a fortune on new when they’ll outgrow it so quickly and you can find some lovely things, even with the tags still on sometimes!
Buy items in bulk
I always buy nappies when they are on a deal even if I don’t need them . Do the same with baby wipes too.
bulk cooking & freeze half – saves time/money/energy
Best money saving tip from me would be exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months (that would be 6 months saving on baby milk) and using cloth nappies soaking overnight with just a rinse and spin in the morning – even the cheapest disposable nappies will run up an horrendous amount of money.
Use proper cloth nappies
1. Cot beds are a good buy as your child will get many years wear out of it.
2. changing stations can be costly, so use a sturdy chest of draws for your baby’s changing mat -just fix some
wood around the three sides oh and make sure its waist height.
3. paint or decorate a plastic bin to store your children’s toys.
Ask friends that already have babies what items they actually used. We did this and didn’t buy a top n tail bowl or a baby bath as a result
Stock up on nappies etc when they are on offer x
recycle everything you can and turn off appliances at the wall
Dont be shy to buy second hand clothes or toys from charity shops. My son wouldn’t have half the things he has if I had bought them new.
Re-useable nappies
Accept hand me downs from friends and family
A really easy way to save a bit of cash on groceries is to grow your own fruit and veg. Things like potatoes and tomatoes are really easy to grow, and if you can afford a few fruit trees as well then all the better. Surplus crops can be sold by putting into bags or punnets and putting them outside your house in a flat cardboard box or on a small table.
Another of my fave ways to save money is by buying furniture and household goods in charity shops. If you go regularly you can find some fantastic bargains, and if you like DIY you may find you enjoy painting and refurbishing old items of furniture and then selling them on. Its really easy to achieve ‘shabby chic’ looking furniture like this.
Have friends and family who are willing to help with baby clothes which they had for their babies. We have always helped each other in that way and it has saved a lot of money on baby clothes!!
Breast feed, you’ll save a fortune in formula and bottles.
Try and breastfeed your baby. No equipment required and you’ll save a fortune on not having to buy milk!
ebay is your best friend
Try to breastfeed so much more cheaper then buying baby milk. Also try freecyle or fb selling pages for clothes as they grow out of them so quickly you an get some right old bargains 🙂 then seel the ones on that dont fit your little one anymore
I am pregnant for the the first time but have read up on a lot of tips! I personally think breast is best and saving on formula will save us a lot of money! But if breast doesn’t work for me and baby then there are a lot of tips I have picked up from this page that I can use!
car boot sales are a veritable treasure chest for babies and chidren (adults too – especially if you’re struggling to lose weight and can’t fit in your normal clothes). There are some things , like cot mattress and car seats, you need to buy new but for clothes, toys etc you can pay pence not pounds, and help save the planet.
Swap and save with friends
Just read through all these tips and I agree with all of them. I would advise cloth baby wipes as well. I used a kit from ‘Cheeky Wipes’ and this saved me money but you could even make your own.
look on ebay for bargins also free cycle babies use things once or twice. Also ask friends and family to buy items in next size up instead of new born.
bath sharing
Lots of lovely hand me downs from family and friends!
Ebay and gumtree for clothes!
Especially the first few months when they grow out of them so quickly.
You can pick up some great bundles really cheap, and on ebay things often go for just 99p.
Stay in your Mums for the first week! (Thats what mine does)! x
Get a slow cooker. It uses less energy, makes it easy to cook in big batches which saves money and loads of slow cooker recipes can be blitzed or just fork mashed when you start weaning.
In the last few weeks of my pregnancy I batch cooked lots of meals so that in those first few weeks I didn’t have to worry about cooking or rely on expensive take aways.
Once my son was born we used reusable nappies instead of disposables to save money and as he grew out of clothes we sold them on to buy the next size up.
My biggest money saving tip would be don’t be afraid to buy second hand, babies are in clothes for such a short period of time and they won’t ever know the difference between brand new or 2nd hand.
Buy essential baby bits in bulk and get cash back via quidco or topcashback. Look out for money off vouchers from hotukdeals or other baby sites
Join all of the baby clubs to get vouchers etc
Organise a get-together with new mums … you can use it as an outlet for sharing tips, support, as well as a place to swap or hand-down items that your baby has outgrown! It’s all about sharing
Go to nearly new sales for toys and clothes!
Look out on your local Freecycle site for free baby clothes and equipment
Buy in bulk,i always pick up lots of pack of baby wipes if they are on offer.
Ebay is definitely a good idea!
Tip for saving energy after having a baby – if your heating bottles you can fill up a flask save you having to boil the kettle over and over!
Car boots sales are brilliant for baby toys and equpement
Buy nappies and wipes in bulk – saves you money in the long run.
buy in bilk and use ebay
buy baby clothes and toys and things second hand or use hand me downs from friends – they grow out of them so quickly
Shop around for baby equipment before buying as prices can
vary significantly from one shop to another
Washable wipes are cheap and very effective 🙂
Babies grow very quickly. Don`t buy too many early baby clothes. Use any friends give you
My babies used to have a bath with me and I also used to make my own baby food.
if someone offers you second hand clothes, take them…it is surprising the amount of clothes you need
My tip is to go through all the gifts of clothes and work out how many will be worn, no point putting an outfit on because it won’t fit for long, better to take back and ask for vouchers and then you can get the clothes when they are actually needed.
when baby is on solids get some pots and when you are cooking for the family keep a few portions for baby blend and freeze 🙂 saves paying loads on jars of babyfood
recycle baby clothes either sell them or give them to friends …. i was lucky enough to have a few friends with older babies than me who ften gave me clothes , which i then passed on …. also make big batches of food and freeze it
Shared baths
Get them adopted.
Accept offers of clothing from relatives and friends-babies don’t care if they are wearing second hand stuff!
Put on a bib after a milk feed in case they bring some back up with their wind. Saves changing the whole outfit so less washing and no polava changing them 🙂 xx
Great prize…
Bye second hand clothes
Don’t be embarrassed or too proud to accept clothing/toys/baby stuff fro friends & family – babies grow so quickly it’d be daft to buy everything brand new.
Baby Led Weaning was mine! We very rarely buy baby food as she has eaten what we were eating from six months.
size 1 nappies cut in half are far more effective as breast pads at night and don’t need changing
My money saving tip is breast feed if you can, so many all round benefits for mum and baby, also when baby gets on to solids make your own and freeze in ice cube trays rather than buy ready made jars
Join baby clubs look out for offers, vouchers and great deals. Stock up on things when they are on offer.
Ask grandma!
My wife knits right through pregnancy things like scratch MIT’s and hats.
Get clothes from car boots
Reuse everything and dont be afraid to look for bargains on ebay
I would say the best tip is to not buy too many clothes, I did, but then found I had far too many when I was given lots as gifts from friends and family. There was so many never worn. So just buy a few sleepsuits, vests etc, then just wait and see if you get given some as presents!
Nearly new sales… to buy and save money and also to try and recoup some needed cash. x
only buy items that are necessary and are going to be used immediately,,x
dont buy too many clothes until baby is born because u might need a different size and also family and friends will buy lots of clothes for baby
Cook large portions and then freeze.
Buy big toys 2nd hand – most only get played with for a short period of time!
before doing the weekly shop look online for money off coupons. I have used upto £20 worth on one shop.
Use ebay etc for clothes
Making batches of food for my baby and freezing them.
Sell on baby’s clothes to make money for new clothes, they grow so quick!
Make use of money-off coupons
2nd hand bargains 🙂
Definitely second hand items!
When the baby’s weened, do not bother with the expensive jars and pouches, make the same dinner for everyone, then divide, unsalted and less spicy version for the tot, and then season your own food as you like. Also do not buy a pricey baby food steamer, the standard foldaway steamer for a tenner will the same job perfectly.
Family hand me downs are a great way of saving both money and the environment!
get out of the house, going out for a walk is the best thing for not eating/spending/using stuff up
batch cooking meals for my little ones and freezing them saved money
Buy in bilk when you see offers. I still do that and save a fortune on fairy washing powder when it’s half price
Own brand nappies Most supermarkets own brand are just as good if not better than the big makes!
Cloth nappies! Much better for the environment too! 🙂
Second Hand, Gumtree, nearly new sales and ebay, baby’s grow out pf things so fast most baby stuff is in very good condition and much cheaper than new. 🙂
ebay!
Newborn babies grow out of the first sizes very quickly so don’t be worried about buying new stuff when second hand first sizes are so easy to come by and are always like new as they are only in them for a few weeks 🙂
And COUPONS for the stuff you normally buy are a good deal. ALso email companies asking for discounts, not many people do this and you may end up with a goodie bag.
Start buying nappies and wipes before baby arrives. Spreads the cost and you are prepared.
buy in bulk
Supermarket own brand nappies and wipes! Same quality as branded ones 🙂
look on for sale sites and buy some baby stuff for a fraction of the rrp 🙂
Buy clothes and toys from nearly new sales
Accept all offers of help off friends and family including meals and clothes and baby equipment that their children have grown out of.
Dont buy everything you think you need, with the second one you will realise how much money you could have saved 🙂
Cloth nappies have been the best money-saving thing we did when our baby was born.
Use eco balls for drying!
Enter competitions to win stuff for baby oh and cook the same food for purees that you are eating this saves energy and effort.
No need to buy expensive ready made baby food, ensure you keep a little bit back from your own meals, obviously nothing spicy or unhealthy, and use a blender, remember to not add extra salt or sugar to your cooking if doing this, you can always season your own dinner later on! Doing this makes the transition so much easier when starting to introduce more solid meals as they do not have to be weaned off baby food! Added bonus to this is that you also ensure that you are cooking at least one healthy meal a day which is also good for you!
Don’t buy expensive baby food in jars – use a blender so baby can eat whatever the rest of the family are eating. Freeze small portions of blended food to use on days when the family are having curry or anything that is unsuitable for your baby.
Always ask around for hand-me-down clothes, with a new baby you can be tempted to buy everything new, but really they will grow out of it so fast and you’ll be too tired to care!
Reusable nappies saves me tons of money that would’ve gone straight to the landfill in disposable nappies.
share bath water
use cloth nappies i used them on my 4 and they save money and are better for the environment. Disposables are so expensive.
Don’t do lots of small washes, do a few large ones.
Use a baby bath in the bath, uses half the amount of water and a lot safer
i like to bath baby with myself to save water as i don’t mind using baby products in my own baths lol 😉
making the same food for you and your baby
Bulk buy non spoiling items when on offer (wipes, powder etc)
make your own baby food and freeze in portions instead of buying jars and pouches its much cheaper and tastier and healthier for baby!
Breast feeding, its on tap and just right for baby and no need to heat up or sterilise bottles, saving you time and money!
Breastfeeding – saving a lot o energy, and burning your body fat 🙂
Don’t buy many baby clothes – just get a few essentials and then wait for a week after the babies birth as you are likely to get enough clothes as presents to last for the first few months
Try not to buy jars. Baby led weaning was fantastic for us. Our babies ate the same food as us. Saved us a fortune. X
look out for nappy deals in all the supermarkets – there are some bargins to be had!
Try to buy in bulk when things are on offer like babywipes
Make your own baby food – freeze in flexible muffin trays & pop into bags.
Sign up to receive the free baby-related magazine from your supermarket which usually has coupons and offers for baby products.
Buy baby clothes from Ebay
Don’t buy everything new. New nappies, carseat and mattress are a must, the rest you can manage with secondhand.
bathe with your baby to save on water x
Join all the mew mum/baby clubs to make most out of the coupons you can get. I never paid full price for wipes on my son as always bought lots when on BOGOF
Don’t buy too many baby clothes – especially new born and 0-3. They grow out of them so quickly, and people will give clothes as gifts. Buy second hand from charity shops or ‘as new’ sales.
plan your meals and I found that a slow cooker was great, because you could make a large batch of food and freeze what you don’t use for another day
Buy as much 2nd hand as you can
Ask your friends and relatives if they have baby stuff to give out before buying new stuff.
Also check Freecycle for giveaways in your local area
Hi! Our best saving tips was to get old clothes from older cousins, and than I give the clothes away to friends with younger kids 🙂
join all the baby cluns online theres a few an you normally get a few money off coupons for joining
Use the best own brand nappies during the day and the more expensive ones at night to keep baby comfy
Go to Mum and Toddler groups – as well as meeting people in similar circumstances, they have frequent ‘pre-loved’ sales where you can pick up complete bargains 🙂
The temptation when you have your first baby is to buy everything new but I would ask friends and family if they have baby equipment they would like to pass on or sell to you. Babies grow out of things so quickly that it’s often like-new. When my son was born I borrowed a lovely cot bed and a pram. I was given stair gates, a travel cot, a high chair even a car seat (with a known provenance so I knew it was safe to use). I was given masses of baby equipment and I think friends and relations were glad to have a clear out! The best thing was I sold everything I’d been given on eBay when I was finished with it all!
Washable nappies and charity shops/ car boot sales!
Borrow baby equipment you only need for a while eg baby bath. Dont buy too many little outfits. its amazing how quickly babies outgrow them in a few weeks. In later stages of weaning, it is so much cheaper to puree some of your home cooking, rather than purchase jars of baby food.
Always 2nd hand
clothes from family
I found from first time round that weekly grocery bills rise sharply. Second time round I was prepared, searched online for vouchers and also make use of multiple in store magazines which also have vouchers. Still eat well but at less of the cost!
I was given lots of baby clothes which were virtually unused by friends and family, which saved me a fortune.
Stop buying things for yourself!
Accept clothes from friends and family for the baby no point buying brand new when they will only wear them for a couple of months
Ask friends and family for any used toys/clothes etc for the baby that they no longer need, also look for things you no longer need and sell on ebay, you can use the paypal balance to buy other baby items on ebay x
I guess use your boobs for as long as possible?
buy in bulk!
buy baby offers and swap items with friends
Signing up for all the baby clubs on the internet, I got sent some great free packs
Shop for baby clothes at bootsales – babies grow out of clothes so quickly you’ll spend a fortune if you buy all new!
Make your own baby food in bulk and freeze it down in ice cube trays
Always make your own food and join a swap/buy baby clothes site
Swap and change nappy brands, always coupons and vouchers available
go to a nearly new sale in your local area. there people sell their old baby clothes and things at very cheap prices. i bought lots of clothes ranging from 20-90 pence each!!
Don’t buy loads of clothes – they’ll be grown out of so quickly!
Charity shops as pre-loved
Utilise ebay, sell clothes grown out of and from the profits buy new ones at low prices
I shared clothes with friends, and always made my own food for my little one. Also breastfeeding saves alot on bottles and formula!
It’s always worth having a word with friends who already have a baby, to see if they will sell, or better still, loan, you equipment,clothes etc that they will no longer need in the near future. They will be glad of the extra space/ income, and in due course, if they are having another one, you will be able to reciprocate
I always blended up what ever we was having for my son, was easyier & a lot fresher & cheaper than baby jars, also I used asda little angels nappers has I found they are the same as pampers but a lot cheaper too. x
use reusable nappies
Always check out your local charity shops for some great bargains and remember to take along any unwanted or outgrown items that would be greatly appreciated by charity shops to sell on.
Make the most of money saving vouchers but only buy what you need.
Don’t go overboard when buying clothes for your newborn (it’s tempting when it’s your first born) as you’ll get a lot given as gifts and babies outgrow them really quickly in the first few weeks and months!
use price comparison websites and research everything i buy
Milton tablets, a sealed 4l container. Seriously it is the cheapest, safest and easiest way to sterilise! Modern sterilisers require electricity and actually as you are advised not to make feed up in advance then they are not that useful as you will need to re sterilise!
As your weight changes get your clothes from the charity shop they often have new clothes still with tags on so you dont spend much and you can donate them back when you need a smaller size 🙂
buy 2nd hand clothes for baby, they are not in them for 2 mins and most baby clothes 2nd hand are next to new any way.
asking friends for unwanted clothes, i get loads of perfect condition hand me downs
Ebay usually have lots of clothes and toys for some really good prices and friends usually help out where they can too.
Buy own brand nappies or even real ones .x
Lots of free goodies, vouchers and samples on baby sites and companies.
Shop own brands can be just as good as brand names and a lot cheaper
freecycle
Don’t buy lots of expensive new clothes – they’ll only be worn for about a month. Hand-me-downs except for special occasions are find. Don’t buy premium brand nappies. Aldi, etc are just as good.
go on mysupermarket online before going shopping for baby food/nappies-see offers, such as 3 for 2 or buy 1 get 1 free etc.- buy in bulk so not making too many trips – save on petrol too
Don’t buy expensive baby clothes as they aren’t used for long before they no longer fit,so paying expensive just wastes money
there are some fantastic second hand items out there that have hardly been used
without a doubt, using cloth nappies…saved a fortune!
use old towels cut into small pieces instead of purpose bought cloths
Don t buy everything brand new people can never tell!
Not to panic and change the babys nappy every 5 minutes like i did with my first son!xx
Start a toy club with your friends, instead of buying new ones just share each others for variety. Also can be done with most things we had a dress stash and if one of us was going to an ocassion we would just share dresses and accessories
shop own brands are often as good or better than named makes, also Aldi/Lidl have good alternatives too
I bought all my baby clothes second hand on Ebay, most of them looked brand new and saved me a fortune.
Buy Your Nappies in bulk, either at a cash’n carry or something like Amazon Subscribe & Save. But don’t go over the top! They’ll be in the next size up faster than you can use them!
Baby clothes can be expensive; so when they is a sale on by different sizes, then they will grow into them 🙂
Also then sale them either on ebay or to friends and family 🙂
get clothes etc from carbootsale and charity shops or pass ons from family/friends
Don’t be too proud to accept second hand things from family and friends, because babies grow so quickly, and then you can pass them on too
Shopping around for deals on nappies!
Make up bottle in one go and wash on a lower setting
use freecycle to find bits that you need, but also to get rid of the things you no longer use.
Breast feeding is healthy and saves on formula. I also recommend check out local ‘new to you sales’ to buy baby items, baby gear and clothes. It helps out a great deal! You can also sell your preloved baby clothes and gear at these places or even online.
Only buy age 3-6 month clothes because people will gift you new baby stuff and you will end up with too much for your little one to wear.
I always pick up clothes for my little boys in the sales and pick up clothes in bigger sizes to put back for when they will fit. I also always made all my baby foods, usually a version of the family meal we were all having but pureed for the baby.
Plan ahead – buy as much of your baby things whilst you are pregnant. Once your baby arrives you will have lots of extra expenses, espectially nappies 🙂
Make your own baby food. Much cheaper:)
Sharing baths
put a cotton wall ball in a warm place and the warmth with get around the fibers and expand them so it’s easier to pull apart.and u will use less
store brand nappies are just as good as the big brands and a lot less money too
Buy or accept second-hand clothes and toys, sell new stuff when out-grown.
look on ebay for bundles of clothing. they grow so fast and never in them long.
Buy own brand bubble bath,shampoo, nappies etc ..they’re just as good as named products
Cloth Nappies and freecycle … having a baby needn’t be an expensive headache!
Don’t buy loads of clothes, they are only in them for a short time.
Invest in cloth nappies it really pays itself of in the long-term
Save on washing. Do one load a week if you can help it. It saves energy and you time ironing them.
making the same food for baby as we are having ourselves – saves a fortune buying expensive jars and tins
i buy a lot nearly new
Use second hand clothes when your baby is first born – lots of babygrows end up stained from nappies that even a hot wash won’t get out! New ones would have been a waste of money
Definitely take up offers of second hand baby equipment from friends and family members, the baby doesn’t care if they are hand-me-downs or Mamas & Papas best! Also shop in charity shops for baby clothes, they grow out of them so quickly that most items in these shops are barely worn and a fraction of the price of new.
sell outgrown clothes on local website or ebay as babies outgrow their clothes so quickly
my best money saving tip is go to charity shops for clothes for baby, they grow out of them so quick that its silly spending £10+ on a single outfit they may only wear once or twice.
Shop brand for everything its all as good :0)
Instead of going out for the obligatory coffee and cake with new mummy friends, take it in turns to host. Much cheaper – and less stressful!
meal plan
ebay!!! I love it and it saves me lots of money
Don’t waste money on everything brand new (clothes etc). Babies are only in clothes 2 mins and if someone you know is going to give you a ‘hand me down’ let them, as they are more or less new and it saves you a fortune!
charity shop clothes
Recycle – Car boot sales are great for clothes and toys. I have saved so much money doing this and you can still sell the, on afterwards so basically cost you nothing!
Talk to a seasoned mum/dad about what you actually need, so you do’t end up with rooms full of gadgets that get used once!
get offers when on buy one get one free
boot sales for your olds and things you need
Buy material nappies – you save a fortune. Yeah, they’re a little pricey to start but it saves loads in the long run and; it’s great for the environment too. Bonus!
Do baby led weaning, your baby eats what you eat, saving extra food and cooking
Buying bundles on Ebay and freecycle.
Buying toys on Ebay
Use terry nappies and liners to save a fortune on disposable nappies, not to mention reducing the mountain of landfill waste!
use non-disposable nappies!
Freecycle for lots of items!
make homemade baby food just remember no salt or spices meat and veg in their own juices blend sieve and serve freeze any extra for another meal another day same with fruit too
Stock up on baby products in bulk when they are on special offer or where you have money off coupons to use. The Bounty and Emma’s Diary packs you can get during and after pregnancy are great and come with some handy samples and lots of vouchers too.
buy baby things when on offer
Accept second hand clothes and equipment!
Breastfeeding! Can save you a fortune :}
accept any “hand me downs” they grow so quickly and babies don’t know they are not new!
Buy your goods from places like ebay and gumtree heck of a lot cheaper
Pre-loved can be just as good as new!
ebay and the facebook seller pages are always a good way of turning your money around to buy the next bulk of baby things and eat meals you can pre prepare during the day whilst your little one is napping to cook or reheat in the evening , planning is always a time and moneysaver
Stock up on items when they are on offer
breastfeed and make the most of supermarket deals clubbing together with friends and family can help
Reusable nappies
Sign up to the many supermarket baby clubs – lots of money off vouchers, freebies and samples!!
Shop around, if your making a dinner, dont throw away the left over veg, cook it up and freeze….use ice cube trays to store pureed homemade baby food when your weaning, its easy to just pop out and let deforst ready for feeding time, plus as you have made it yourself you know whats gone into it.
Join all the baby clubs and use the free coupons to buy nappies, wipes etc
Making your own baby food saves an awful lot of money. It also means that you get to control exactly what is going into it … so no preservatives, colours or E-numbers! Win, win!
alot of people think that `name brand` stuff is the best but i found alot of shops own stuff is good too, boots and tescos nappies are just as good (better than huggies too i think) boots wipes are really good too, . and also register with baby companies e.g boots parent club etc, as you get money off vouchers , samples and some give you double points which soon stack up when your buying baby stuff and then you can use them to treat yourself or if your having a skint week use to buy the bits you need
I bought lots of wipes and nappies before baby was born while I was still earning a full wage, this saved me a lot of stress afterwards 🙂
Don’t go to baby shows and buy everything, waste of money!
dont waste money on expensive gadgets and brands! own brand is perfectly fine!
Don’t spend loads on baby clothes – they grow so fast and won’t get wear out of them. Accept hand me downs from friends or family as they will still be as good as new.
Use scented doggy poo bags from 99p shop rather than nappy sacks. I bought a pack of muslin cloths and used them for so many things with all of my babies.
Use clothes and toys left after older kids
hand me down toys and clothes from friends and relatives helped me a great deal with my first born!
Meal plan and use a flannel rather than wet wipes 🙂
Family and friends will want to be involved and they always want to buy things for the baby. Ask for either cash towards large items such as a buggy, cot, etc or for gift vouchers rather than individual gifts. This means you can cut the cost of the largest items – and if you can source these from a second hand site that’s even better!
Breastfeed if you can because apart from being better for baby, formula milk costs an absolute fortune! (I’ve done both with my kids!) Also try re-useable nappies. I got mine 2nd hand & saved a fortune using them!
Make your on baby food and freeze it x
making the same food for your baby as your selfs mashing it up in food mixure, saves on buying different food for baby which will save alot of money x
If it is a second (or more!) child, use your old items. The baby doesn’t care if things are new or not, all they need is love 🙂
Make your own food. Also try to get some clothes second hand. We got a lot for 20p per item from our church!
There are so many hidden costs when having babies! I’ve got a two yr old & a 5month old so we’re trying to figure our way around everything. Thanks for the tips!
Best tip is to sign up to the baby schemes by the large supermarkets and boots these schemes give great value and come in really handy. This with using coupons is really a lifeline,
Enjoy your child they ll grow up to quickly take lots of pictures, My advice is that to take up any help offered clothes, watching baby while you have a nap, cleaning etc. Its all helpful never be ashamed to ask for help.
Breastfeed as won’t need bottles, sterilisers, baby milk etc- it is free and on tap!
There is no shame in buying second hand clothes for your baby, most items have hardly been worn, so are usually in great condition
Use cloth nappies, fairly pricey to start with but will last until potty training and will save hundreds
Buy own brand nappies and baby shampoo etc
Second hand baby clothes! You can buy piles and piles of them on ebay for the same price as 2-3 outfits brand new, they generally look brand new, your baby wont care, other people wont know, etc.
you can always use old kids clothes from the family..kids grow so fast..and there is no harm is using clothes if they are in good condition and from your own family!!
Blend the meals you have and freeze them for you toddler
Amazing! This blog looks just like my old one!
It’s on a totally different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Superb choice of colors!