Reader Spotlight: Raising Baby on a Budget
April 5, 2012
Today we’re going to hear from Trista over at Budget for Baby. Couponing has helped Trista to achieve her ultimate desire as a new mother…being able to stay home with her daughter! Take it away Trista!
Even before I was married, I knew that I wanted to stay at home with my future children at least until they were in school. During college I had a classmate, who was also a mother to two children, who told me about her impressive couponing adventures. It was something I wanted to get into, but was too busy at the time. When I graduated, I was four months pregnant and, with my little bit of extra time, I dove into couponing.
My goal was to save enough money each month to enable me to stay at home with my baby while my husband worked to provide for our family. I was hooked after the first time I used a $1 coupon on a box of BOGO cereal! Within the first month, I shaved over $100 off our grocery bill. I was also delighted that we were still able to eat a wide variety of whole grains, lean meat, and fresh produce. I also learned how to save on other items such as clothing, vitamins and home decor.
Being frugal minded as I am, I had done some research and discovered that on average, baby’s first year would cost over $5,000! There was no way I was going to let that happen. I began looking for good deals on essentials such as diapers and wipes. I shopped sales and used store and manufacturer coupons to save some big bucks. I got a lot of diapers using the reward systems at drug stores too. I was able to build up a decent stockpile of diapers through size 4 which will probably last until my baby is a year old. I also discovered consignment sales which have saved me tons on clothing, toys, and other baby gear.
‘My baby is now almost 7 months old and we have spent under $1,000! I even started my own blog with deals and ideas for raising baby on a budget called Budget for Baby. We have been able to provide my baby with everything she needs and she is extremely happy. Best of all, I’m able to stay home with her. Couponing has allowed me to spend every day with her and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world!
Thanks for sharing your story, Trista!
I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com!
Cloth diapering and nursing have been my 2 saving graces. The up front cost of the diapers was kind of pricy but I registered for the diapers so I got some that way and you know I used a coupon code for them! I also learned how to make them which helped as well.
My son is a year and almost 2 months and we have barely had to spend anything on things for him other than clothes. He eats what we eat (never bought baby food…except for a money maker deal on Happy Baby at Publix!) and loves food.
I never knew having a baby could be so cheap!
Woh, she only spent $1,000! That’s awesome!
So glad to have this reader highlighted. I have a 7 month old myself and always trying to find ways to save. Very thankful she posted her own blog site- will be following!
Diapers are cheap on Amazon.com – Fisher Price diapers are great and not expensive. If you sign up for Amazon Mom (free) and Subscribe & Save (free) you can save even more.
Thanks for sharing. I am actually in the same boat myself. We paid off all our debt except one car payment and I will be able to stay home with our son, due May 26th thanks in large part to couponing too. I have diapers stockpiled thru size 3 as well and although my husband thinks its nuts, he’ll be happy when we don’t have to run out and buy any that first year =). I wish I could say we’ve only spent $1000 but I still don’t feel too badly – we’re at about $2500 but I also splurged a little on furniture and gear hehe.
Regarding the above about Amazon and Amazon Mom, I wouldn’t be so sure anymore. I joined recently and they have apparently changed things significantly. You only get 3 months free then it’s $79/year. Furthermore, the prices of diapers and wipes are not worth it, even after all coupons, discounts, and codes, from my research. I have actually gotten better deals at Target and Publix (during sales) than I can find on Amazon. Since it does not seem worth it to me, I am going to cancel before my 3 months are up (as always, it may be a good deal for others but it wasn’t for me)
I second the cloth diapering and breastfeeding (or in my case exclusively pumping) recommendation.
I bought 24 one size fits all cloth diapes when my daughter was a baby ($8 each for a total cost of $192) and I’m still using those same diapers now with my son 3 years later. Huge amount of money saved here.