Today, Lady Joanna wraps the third guest post on being Pregnant on a Budget. Once again, I’m not pregnant. 🙂 I just had some requests on tips and ideas. And since Lady Joanna is a frugalista and sporting a baby bump right now, I asked her to share with us.
Almost done! This last trimester is going to feel like it lasts forever, but I’ll also be nesting like crazy trying to get ready for this new family member, soon to make his entrance. See my frugal tips for the first trimester and the second trimester to get caught up. With weeks left to go, where do I start?
- Accept offers for help. This isn’t the time to go it alone. Coworkers want to bring over a meal? Great. Mom wants to help clean the house? Go for it. Friends want to come over and babysit? Awesome. It’s OK to turn down some offers, or say “Come back later” if you need your rest.
- Plan how you’re going to feed your baby. Breastfeeding is obviously the least expensive option, and the healthiest. If, like me, you’ll be headed back to work after Baby, find a good breast pump now, or research how to rent one. Even though the upfront cost for a pump is high, you’ll save even more in formula and, more importantly, future medical costs.
- Plan how you’re going to diaper your baby. If you have your own washer and dryer, the least expensive option is to try cloth diapering. Modern cloth diapers are as easy to use as disposables, and save hundreds of dollars – especially when you take into account future children.
- Figure out a post-baby budget. What extra costs need to be factored in? Diapers & wipes. Formula, if you’re using it, or extra food for mom. College savings, if you want to start early & take advantage of compounding interest. Childcare, or the loss of an income. Decreased or no pay during maternity leave. All these budget considerations need to be thought about before Baby, so you’ll have time to save up or re-prioritize before unexpected expenses or debt occurs.
I’m still in my second trimester, so I haven’t gotten all the logistics of everything on this list figured out yet. I know these are things I want to think about and have in place before Baby’s here. What else should I be thinking about as this pregnancy draws to a close? What expenses surprised you, wise parents, at the end of your pregnancy or after Baby came?
Thanks again Lady Joanna for this great series! If you have a frugal pregnancy tip, please leave it in the comments. Help Lady Joanna finish strong. 🙂
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