Though babies are tiny, they come with big expenses. But
don't worry, based on my first year of parenting, I've come up with some tricks
to help you save up to P100,000 in baby's first year. You can thank me later!
Note: Potential savings in this post are based on the
average price of each item and rounded up to the nearest peso.
FEEDING
Breastfeeding is a tricky matter. Everybody has a different
experience. Some find it easy while some encounter challenges but even if you
just breastfeed a few times a day or while you are on maternity leave (around 2
months), you can save around P10,000 because you don't have to buy formula.
If you do end up using formula, buy it in bulk once you've
found the right formula for your baby. Most brands give a 5% discount when you
buy in bulk. This can give you around P5,000 in savings for baby's entire first
year.
Once baby starts solids, buy a regular steamer instead of a
dedicated baby food maker. Its capacity is bigger meaning you can make and
store more food in one go. Most baby food makers cost around P12,000 while
regular steamers cost around P3,000. That's P9,000 in savings. And you can even
use the steamer to make other dishes when you get the go signal to give your
baby table food.
CLOTHING
You need at least a dozen of the baby basics (side ties,
pajamas, bibs, wash cloths, etc.) as well as swaddles and towels. Buy store
brand and save 50% compared to branded baby items. This can save you around
P8,000.
Skip the shoes until baby starts walking. In place of shoes
which they can outgrow really quickly (like in 1 to 2 months), buy baby those cute little socks that
look like shoes and save around P2,000.
DIAPERS & WIPES
Babies use close to 3,000 diapers in their first year alone!
Opt to buy them in bulk to get discounts. If you get just 20% off on diapers
(the biggest discount I was able to get was 35%), you can save P5,000 in a
year. Also, make sure to choose good quality diapers. They may cost more per
piece but you will end up spending more if you use cheaper diapers that keep on
leaking because you have to change them more often. Good quality diapers
actually allow you save on cleanup time too.
You will use wipes to clean just about anything in baby's
first year. Buy them in bulk too and get at least a 10% discount in order to save P1,000 in a
year.
BABY GEAR & ACCESSORIES
Borrow
A playpen, a high chair and a rocker. Each of these things
can cost anywhere between P5,000 to P7,000 for mid-range brands. These are things you can borrow from family and friends
to save around P18,000.
Substitute or Skip
Changing tables cost around P8,500. If you want to save, get
a diaper changing caddy instead and fill it with baby's diapering supplies.
This way, you also get to move them from room to room. Diaper caddies cost
around P400-500. That's savings of P8,000.
Skip the bassinet and bottle warmer. Baby will definitely
outgrow his bassinet really quickly and you can just run a bottle of milk under
warm water to heat it. This saves P4,000.
Download a white noise app instead of purchasing a white
noise machine and save P2,500.
Skip the whole crib bedding set and just buy fitted sheets. According to the guidelines for infant sleep safety, soft
objects, loose bedding, bumper pads, pillows and blankets should be kept out of
the crib. This means baby only needs a firm mattress covered with a fitted
sheet. This will
save you around P2,500.
Set up a registry
Register for items you will really need such as:
Crib
Crib mattress
Stroller
Car seat
Sterilizer with dryer
Feeding bottle starter set
Ear thermometer
Nasal aspirator
Grooming kit
Tub
Diaper bag
I never got to make a registry for my baby shower because I
was put on bed rest for most of my pregnancy. But I learned just recently that
even if you aren't gifted with the items on your list, most registries give you
a 10% discount for stuff left on your list up to 7 days after your event date.
All of these things can add up to around P50,000 so that's P5,000 worth of
discounts when your purchase them yourself.
CHILD CARE
When I was about to go to work, we were so desperate to find
qualified caregivers for the twins. We turned to agencies hoping that they
screened the nannies they represent well. Unfortunately, it was the opposite.
We were also charged huge referral and training fees (even though we discovered
soon enough that the nannies didn't seem to be trained) which amounted to P10,000 for one nanny whose contract will only last for 6 months. If you choose
to renew the nanny, it would cost you another P10,000 in fees. Try getting
referrals instead and save yourself P20,000.
There you go, a total of P100,000 in savings. As a final
tip, consider using your savings to open baby's first bank account or start his
college fund. Happy saving!
No comments