This is the final article in this 3 part series. Read part 1 and part 2.
Have you added some of these tips to your life?
After you read these last 7, feel free to add more tips in the comments.
Today you will learn some great tips on saving money with babies and saving money while shopping.
Here are the last 7 tips (tips 15 through 21)…
15. Don’t Always Buy in Bulk
Always calculate cost per ounce or item such as per diaper.
Contrary to popular belief, the bigger package isn’t necessarily the best price.
I also find that quite often they are close to the same price per ounce/item and with a coupon; it makes the smaller package a better deal.
Take the time to check. It’s worth it.
Some stores list the price per ounce on the shelf tags. Double check these as well. Surprisingly, they are not always correct.
16. Baby Stuff? Think Resale, Not Retail
Buy baby stuff from resale shops, yard sales and other second hand places.
Facebook swap shops are great for this!
You can purchase baby toys such as jumpers for pennies on the dollar and quite often, they are barely used because of how quickly they are outgrown.
17. Be Reasonable With Baby Clothes
Why not purchase baby clothes used as well?
Baby clothes are worn only a hand full of times before they are out-grown.
If you buy new, you end up paying $15 for an outfit that you can sell for $1 a month later when your baby out grows it.
Also, buy unisex colors/styles so that they can be reused for more babies in the future. You never know what (or who) is going to happen.
Forego the shoes. They outgrow the footwear very quickly. Shoes are cute, but they are unnecessary for babies until they start walking.
18. Compare Prices
Before you buy, make sure you are getting the best deal. Many times you could buy items for less on the internet or at another local store than the “one” you always shop at.
No one store has the best deal on everything.
Try to know the average price of the items you buy frequently.
Kalen and I frequently buy things like diapers off of Amazon instead of in store. You can often buy them with a damaged box (but no damaged or open diapers) for much less.
While you are comparing prices, make sure to check out the reviews on the products you are considering buying to see what others like you have to say about the product’s value. You can also talk to friends or family to see what their favorite or most useful buys are.
19. Buy What You Need When You Don’t Need It
If the item is not perishable or doesn’t expire quickly, buy it when it is on sale or when you have a coupon. Or both!
If you don’t do this, you know you will have to buy the item anyway and when you do, you will end up paying full price for it.
Why pay full price for anything, really?
Here are a few things that you could be looking for:
- Paper Towels
- Toilet Paper
- Laundry Detergent
- Soap/Shampoo/Conditioner
- Shaving Cream
This is a great concept for Christmas and holiday gifts too; you can buy things all year round when they go on sale and put them away for later.
20. Pay for the Product, Not the Marketing
You may find a store brand or a less expensive brand that you like just as well or better than the one you have always used.
Often these brands are made by the same name brand companies, just without all of the fancy packaging.
Name brands are mostly only more expensive because of the marketing, advertising and packaging.
21. Don’t Buy What You Don’t Need
This seems obvious, but we still do it.
Do we really need a fancy expensive diaper disposal pail? Why not use a grocery sack? Tie up the used diapers and throw them out.
Do we really need 20 outfits of one size? Why not use 6 or 7 and just wash them every couple days?
This also works well with our cloth diaper regimen, mentioned in Part 1 of this series.
What about a changing station? Could you use the top of a low dresser? Why not use the floor or the bed?
Sometimes saving money on what you “need” can be as simple as challenging the concept of what is “needed”.
Wrapping Up This Series
This is the third article in a 3 part series. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3.
Photo Credit: artnoose, Chris Phan, Cinderellasg, Gerald Patterson.