It is far too easy to let the cost of raising a child affect your stress levels. Before too long it usually becomes clear to a lot of new mothers that the financial side of having a family can be far tougher than they initially thought.
With so many nappies to buy, clothes to purchase and other expenses to think of it can be incredibly stressful to start thinking about this. We all know that being stressed out is really bad for your health so how can you avoid it?
Don’t Buy Disposable Nappies
Not only are disposable nappies really expensive to buy; they also do an astonishing amount of damage to the environment. These things take an eternity to full decompose and every day millions of used nappies are thrown into landfill sites all over the planet. Using cloth nappies that can be washed over and over again might seem like a more difficult way of doing things at first but is it really so bad? These are cheap, easy to wash and as long as you clean them well they are also extremely hygienic. Some mums will buy disposable nappies from a supermarket for certain occasions and cloth ones for other times, so it is just a question of working out when is best for each type in your case.
Choose Second Hand Toys
Another expense that isn’t strictly necessary is that which comes with the purchase of brand new toys. We all love to gift wonderful toys to our kids but is it such a good idea to spend a lot on these things? An easier and more affordable approach is to go online and look for soft baby toys that are being sold by their current owners. Click here if you want to see some current offers. The great things about cuddly bears and dogs and such is that it is usually easy to wash them and get them completely clean and hygienic again. When you think about the amount of toys the average child uses in their first few years of life this could add up to a massive saving if you buy them from their current owner. Another great move is to see if any of your old toys can still be used. It is a wonderful feeling to see your child using a toy that you grew up with. You might just need to carry out some repair work on really old or damaged toys but it will be worth it.
Make Stuff
If you have never before been creative then this is a fantastic time to start. Clothes and toys are probably the two things that you could start by trying to make. To get started, you just need to go online and look for some tips or how-to videos on the subject. Once you get some confidence in this area you should find that it is something that is really good fun as well as being a fine way to save money. If you discover that you have a talent for it then you might even end up selling some of your creations to other parents.
Look for Free Things to Do
As your baby starts to grow up it is vital that you spend as much quality time with them as possible. However, this doesn't have to mean spending money on taking them to theme parks or expensive restaurants with play areas. Instead, you can look for things to do that the whole family will enjoy. This could range from doing some fun exercises in the garden to watching a video together or simply going for a walk with them. These fun activities can be more satisfying then paying for alternative forms of entertainment anyway.