Baby Saving Tipsby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 15 Jan 2008 12:09 PM Congratulations! Expecting a baby can be such an exciting time. It can also be expensive. Those precious little ones require so much, and you can easily spend thousands of dollars in baby's first year, outfitting your little one with everything she needs. Exhausted days and little sleep create a tendency to spend, too, as what is most convenient often outweighs what is frugal. I like to save money, but there is no way that I am going to tell you to make all your meals from scratch the day you get home from the hospital. I tried, and believe me, it just doesn't work. Still, there is plenty that you can do before the baby arrives to help greatly cut down on the huge expenses that babies bring. Here are some ideas. Eating out can take a big chunk of your money. Just think, even take out may cost you $20 or $30 a night. Now is the time to stock your freezer with easy meals that you can just microwave or pop in the oven. Before the baby arrives, make it a routine to double or triple your recipes every time you cook and freeze the extras for later. Also stock frozen meatballs, ravioli, even store bought TV dinners for desperate nights. Make up some easy meal kits for variety. Have dough, sauce and shredded cheese on hand for a pizza night. Put together a casserole or bake kit using canned veggies, canned chicken and canned biscuits. Make up some muffin mixes. Stock your pantry with easy items to eat. Peanut butter and jelly, cereal, crackers, fruit, pasta, etc. Let it be known that you are willing to accept any baby clothes or equipment that may be available from friends and relatives. Those cute outfits can really add up, and most babies only get to wear their outfits once or twice before they outgrow them. (Check for recalls on equipment.) Buy prepaid phone cards so you can share your news from the hospital. Most hospitals ban cell phones, and calling from the hospital phone can really cost a lot. Make an arrangement for a lactation consultant to visit you in the hospital and at home. Breast feeding can save you $5,000 a year, and you are more likely to stick with it if you have support. If you do need to formula feed, ask the doctor's office and hospital for formula samples, and sign up for offers with formula companies. Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here. Related Articles: The Frugal Baby: Cloth Diapers The Frugal Baby: Disposable Diapers and Brands Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags baby, frugal, pregnancy, saving money, thrifty Discuss this article
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