Estimated Monthly Savings: $40
From birth to potty-training, diapering is one of the bigger ongoing costs associated with having a baby. Newborns often use 10-12 diapers per day, while toddlers might use 4-6 but those bigger diapers cost more per diaper. Obviously, diapers are a necessity. But diapering doesn’t have to break the bank! Consider these budget-friendly ways to “take care of business”:
1. Choose Cloth. Cloth diapering has come a long way. These are not your grandma’s cloth diapers! The world of cloth diapering can seem intimidating, and there are many options to consider, but cloth will save you hundreds of dollars over disposables by the time your little one is potty-trained. The initial investment can be daunting, but the one-time cost saves you a lot in the long run.
There are ways to save on cloth diapers, too! Consider buying them used. That might sound gross, but consider how many people invest in cloth diapers and then change their minds. Often they are in new or almost new condition. There are websites dedicated to diaper exchange, or give eBay or Craig’s List a try. There are also people building businesses out of sewing cloth diapers, and their prices are generally lower than the name brands.
2. Set up Subscriptions. Let’s face it. You’re going to be needing diapers for a while. If you choose to use disposables, you’ll be buying them regularly. You don’t want to run out, and emergency diaper runs to the nearest convenience store will drive up your costs. Why not set up a subscription? You know you’ll have what you need, it’s one less thing to think about, and many companies offer discounts for subscribers. Household names like Target and Amazon offer up to 20% discounts with subscriptions!
3. Go Generic. Don’t let advertisements fool you. There is only so much technology involved in making a good diaper. You want it to be absorbent and gentle against your baby’s skin. While the big name brands out-spend each other on advertising arguing over whose is more absorbent or most gentle, in reality there’s very little difference. Don’t buy the hype. Generic brand diapers are usually just as good in both categories. Next time you’re at your favorite store, try their brand and see if you notice a difference in performance. Chances are, the only difference you’ll notice is in your wallet.
Diapers are a necessary part of parenting. You do have to change them, but you don’t have to let them rule your budget. Buying expensive disposable diapers is literally throwing money away. Put that extra money toward something else – like your baby’s college fund!
