MONEY
Having a baby is exciting and nerve-racking, and it can also be eye-wateringly expensive – so here’s how to save on everything you need
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HELPING YOU SPEND WISELY, SAVE MORE AND EARN BETTER
O families in the UK spend around £6,000 during the first year of their baby’s life, but there are plenty of ways to cut costs. We asked Emma Ash – a mum-of-three and founder of sustainable parenting app, YoungPlanet – to share her advice.
WAIT FOR GIFTS!
Don’t buy endless toys ahead of baby’s arrival, suggests Emma. “You’ll be given plenty from family and friends, so save yourself being inundated. Then, once your little one finds a ‘favourite’, buy a few so if they lose one, it saves a lot of heartache.” If you’re an NCT member, visit Nct.org. uk to find out when the next NCT Nearly New Sale is in your neighbourhood (selling affordable preloved clothing, toys and essentials). Likewise, nationwide Mum2Mum Markets have brilliant bargains.
DON’T BUY BRANDED
When it comes to nappies, don’t assume “branded” is best. Aldi Mamia Ultra-Dry Nappies are consistently voted as the best overall by Mumsnet and, according to Which?, cheap nappies will cost around £15 a month, compared to around £50 for more expensive ones. Bulk-buying can cut costs, or you could opt for reusable varieties. In 2021, the Money Advice Service said that while using own-brand disposable nappies costs £1,875, reusable ones cost just £400 (including laundry costs) over the first two and half years. Some councils offer incentive schemes and vouchers for them too – check at thenappygurus.com.
OPT FOR PRELOVED
Don’t be fussy when it comes to hand-me-downs. “As long as it’s washed thoroughly, the odd mark on second-hand baby clothes isn’t a big deal – they’ll only get mucky anyway,” says Emma. For clothes and toys at bargain prices, try Vinted, theoctopusclub.com and secondsnuggle.co.uk. And if relatives want to buy outfits, ask for slightly bigger sizes. “You’ll be gifted lots of cute newborn clothes, but it’s age 18 months+ outfits that will prove really useful,” says Emma. And when it comes to bigger items, there are plenty of ways to save. From bouncers and changing tables to Moses baskets and prams, don’t buy new! “Source as much as you can second-hand,” says Emma. “Most items – from prams to bouncers – can be sterilised (you can also buy new covers) and you’ll pay around a quarter of the RRP. On our app, YoungPlanet, free items are shared daily by users, but tell friends what you’re looking for and ask on your Facebook and Instagram accounts, too. A loved one may have that exact item gathering dust in their loft.” Otherwise, try Preloved, Facebook Marketplace, Facebook groups for specific brands (eg. Bugaboo
