5 Ways We Save Money with Kids

Every parent is thinking about saving for their child’s future. Read on to discover 5 ways we are trying save with our kiddos. Thanks to Signature Care diapers for sponsoring this post.

According to a 2017 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average cost of raising a child from birth through age 17 is $233,610. And that doesn’t include college expenses. Did your heart just skip a beat? Yeah, mine too.

Besides a college investment plan or savings accounts, let alone other necessities like retirement savings, investments and life insurance (especially with no medical exam!), there are a few ways that my husband and I save money these first few years of our kiddos’ lives. Each may seem small in itself but over the course of the first couple of years, it can really add up!

1) Choose toys wisely.
If you walk down the toy aisles in a store, you will be bombarded with TONS of options. And it can add up quick when it comes time for birthdays, holidays or a “just because” situation. When it comes to toys in our house, we have taken a minimalist approach and try to choose carefully, valuing durable open-ended toys that evoke imagination and creativity. We try to avoid things that my kids will play with for a hot minute and then run off in search of the next quick fix. We have toys like books, wooden trucks/trains, building blocks, puzzles, play kitchen items, musical instruments and arts and craft supplies. Why? Because when there are less toys, there is less clutter. Kids play more together, and their imaginations can really be put to work and they grow, and that’s very important to us. And just think of all the money that is saved too!

2) Reuse gear.
From car seats and pack and plays, to strollers and high chairs and baby monitors, we are trying to reuse Bryce’s gear for Blake. Some of it might be “well loved,” but it still functions safely and saves us a lot of money. And if we find that we are in need of an item that will make life easier, I’ve found some great deals at kid consignment shops, garage sales and even in online sale groups. (And on the flip side, I have been selling gear we no longer need…every little bit helps!)

3) Create a capsule wardrobe.
I should first start by stating the obvious: we have two boys, so whatever clothes we buy get reused by the next one (and luckily for us, they were born in the same season, so Bryce’s baby clothes are mostly on track with fitting Blake.) HUGE help on that front money-wise. Additionally, I have created a capsule wardrobe for Bryce, which will be passed on to Blake. It consists of carefully selected clothes that are simple to mix and match. It’s a small, but effective wardrobe that really works for us for a variety of reasons! Because let’s face it: kids grow fast, and we need to replace clothes quickly–so from a financial perspective, it just makes sense.

4) Prep that food.
In terms of food for Bryce and us, I do a meal plan every week and grocery shop to help save money vs eating out (and it is a big savings—we’ve seen the comparisons in our spending habits each month.) Even when Blake was born, I made a large stash of freezer meals to help us get through those crazy first weeks, which was a life saver. But even on the baby front, I made baby food for Bryce and plan to with Blake. It’s so easy to steam/puree leftover veggies from dinner or from our backyard garden and freeze them in containers. A nice savings for sure!

5) Choose value diapers over national brands.
Diapers are a MAJOR cost the first years of a baby’s life. We recently discovered Signature Care diapers, which is a value diaper with significant savings compared to national The Signature Care brand is all about quality and value with a 100% money-back guarantee. The diapers have great leakage protection, are breathable for baby with a cotton enhanced dryness layer, and that helpful wetness indicator that changes blue when it’s time for a change.

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