More Bills than New Baby Cards #1

If we all waited until we were sure we could afford to have a family, we probably wouldn’t have one. New babies can certainly cost a lot financially, but there is no need to succumb to the pressure to spend more than you need. The easiest time to begin teaching your children how to live better for less is when they are newborn, so why not start as you mean to go on? If more bills are coming through your letter box than New Baby cards or your maternity pay is just about to run out, don’t panic. Keep costs down and your baby happy. I worked out I’d saved £2,655 by my son’s first birthday (and that was in 2008). In this series on mumtopia, I’ll show you how.

Freecycle.org, charity shops, second-hand stores and NCT sales are perfect for cribs, high-chairs, portable play-pens, baby monitors and pushchairs. We picked up an umbrella-style buggy at a NCT sale for £5.00 and it lasted over three years. Check out the dates of sales in local press or at nctpregnancyandbabycare; they are usually twice a year. If freecycle doesn’t come up with the goods, small-ads in newspapers and corner shops can still save you a lot of money. Our son’s wooden chest of drawers was £40.00, our daughter’s cot bed cost £35.00 and we picked up a travel system for £40.00, all in excellent condition. Definitely try to borrow a Moses basket - your baby will probably on be sleeping in it for a few weeks. It is recommended that you always buy a new mattress and a new car-seat, however.

Think how much you’ll save if you don’t buy any of these things brand new:
Cot, Pram and accessories, Baby carrier/ sling, Bedding, Steriliser, Bottles, Highchair, Safety gates.

Cheaply decorate your baby’s room. Painted walls in a neutral colour are a good idea, with a bright border (try end-of-line bins in decorating shops, or make your own “border” of postcards, photos and drawings) and matching curtains if you like.

We used boring old magnolia for our baby daughter's walls, but put plenty of things up for her to look at, ad we didn't have to repaint when her little brother came along. You don’t have to get child-themed fabric or wallpaper to have a bright and welcoming nursery.

I made my daughter a sea creatures mobile and stuck silver-foil stars onto the ceiling. My son’s room is decorated with sheets of wrapping paper which work fine as bright, cheerful posters. Make a collage of birthday cards each year, placed in a clipframe. Perhaps a friend or relative could paint a picture for the wall. We have a framed nursery rhyme water-colour by my son’s late great-grandfather.

Money saved by not buying new: Wallpaper and matching accessories £90.00

What's the worst that could happen? Your baby isn't going to reject its bouncychair because it's the wrong colour!