Everyone says having a baby is expensive. And I didn't brush that little pearl of wisdom off, I just didn't quite grasp the full reality of it. Seriously, how can something so small be potentially so expensive? Now I say potentially because I can see how some moms could go totally overboard, and spend WAY more money than necessary. But I also see great ways to save money and not break the bank when having a baby. But still, even a bargain shopper (like me) is going to have to spend quite a few dollars in total. It's inevitable. I was trying to add up how much money I've spent on the baby SO FAR, which is tricky because different things were purchased in different currencies (US and NZ) which means that conversions are required. Lame. But, because I had a serious realization that Mark and I really are on a strict budget for the next 2+ years, I had to know how much more money I was going to "allow" myself to spend on this baby in the near future. So, the breakdown...
I have bought (with the help of my mom and sisters back in the US) a LOT of baby stuff. As in, literally, I have close to almost everything we need. Now of course there is a lot more that I WANT, but don't necessarily need, so we'll just stick with what's necessary (and don't get me wrong, included in the items I have already purchased are definitely some things I wanted rather than really needed, so I have more than the bare essentials, that's for sure). Anyway, a rough estimate of the amount of money I have spent as of today in total is about $1700 USD. Sounds steep, but wait 'til you see what I've got...
So what do I have to show for my $1700, you ask? A quick list...
A nice crib, mattress, all the bedding (including all extra sheets/mattress protectors), wall decor, changing table plus pad and extra covers, glider and ottoman, infant car seat and snap 'n go stroller, moses basket plus rocking stand, jogging stroller, TONS of clothes (potentially enough for most of the first year), blankets, a medium bin of random toys and books, a swing, bouncer, glass bottles, baby carrier, boppy pillow and covers, car seat cover, diapers for the first 1-2 months, burp cloths, towels/washcloths, baby monitor and white noise machine, and probably some other miscellaneous things I forgot to list. This list unfortunately does not include my recent purchase of maternity clothes and nursing tops that my mom is bringing me from the US, but I have to try all those on to see if they fit before I know how much I will have spent in total. Maybe $100?
Retail value for all that stuff new... I couldn't be bothered looking it all up, but probably around $4-5,000? Some of that stuff I did buy at retail price, mostly because I'm having my mom bring it over from Babies R Us because the exact same item is almost 4x the price here in NZ. So I'm still saving money that way. I tried to find what the "average" person spends on baby stuff, and I found this online calculator which itemized all baby stuff, but it tried to tell me an average crib is $100, and an average breast pump is $25, so I think it's just a weeeee bit off. Anyone who has been shopping for baby items lately knows that those prices are almost comical. A different website I found said the average cost of baby preparation (so basically all the things I mentioned that we have above) including maternity clothes is $6000 USD. So I think I'm doing well!
So what's left to buy, you ask? Well, mostly boring (but essential) stuff... breast pump (can we say expensive!), diaper bag, car accessories (mirror, shade), all baby grooming and medicine cabinet supplies, baby bath tub, shampoo/baby wash/lotions/creams, activity mat, carrycot for the jog stroller (this I don't NEED, but I really want so I might just buy it). Then of course there are things we don't need now, but will need in about 6-8 months... like a high chair, pak n play, baby bowls and spoons and sippy cups, things like that. But then I think that's it! And I even plan on borrowing some of those things if I can to save more money. I already got a bunch of pregnancy and baby books on loan, as well as some maternity and nursing tops. Woohoo for free stuff! Oh yeah, and I still need a convertible car seat for when baby outgrows the infant seat, but I think I'll be buying that back in the US when we visit (the good ones cost $500 NZD... what a rip-off!!).
So maybe total I will spend $2200 USD on baby and all items needed for the first year? This will include birthing classes, all maternity care (because it's, ahem, free), and a 6 week "new baby course". Oh yes, also included are all routine check-ups for baby in the first year (also free). In order to save some more money, there are some items we will not be purchasing... mainly toys and books. That sounds weird, but most of our books will be borrowed from the library that's just around the corner, and there is actually a toy library here as well so I plan on being quite frugal and getting toys from there as baby gets older. Unfortunately this $2200 estimate does NOT include diapers (which we've already established I will NOT be using cloth so disposable diapers will be a regular purchase). But I'd say I'm doing well! I felt the need to justify (to myself) how much money I've spent before my mom gets here and we go shopping, and so I know how much more money I can really afford to spend on our little baby. BABIES ARE EXPENSIVE and she's not even here yet!!
I have bought (with the help of my mom and sisters back in the US) a LOT of baby stuff. As in, literally, I have close to almost everything we need. Now of course there is a lot more that I WANT, but don't necessarily need, so we'll just stick with what's necessary (and don't get me wrong, included in the items I have already purchased are definitely some things I wanted rather than really needed, so I have more than the bare essentials, that's for sure). Anyway, a rough estimate of the amount of money I have spent as of today in total is about $1700 USD. Sounds steep, but wait 'til you see what I've got...
So what do I have to show for my $1700, you ask? A quick list...
A nice crib, mattress, all the bedding (including all extra sheets/mattress protectors), wall decor, changing table plus pad and extra covers, glider and ottoman, infant car seat and snap 'n go stroller, moses basket plus rocking stand, jogging stroller, TONS of clothes (potentially enough for most of the first year), blankets, a medium bin of random toys and books, a swing, bouncer, glass bottles, baby carrier, boppy pillow and covers, car seat cover, diapers for the first 1-2 months, burp cloths, towels/washcloths, baby monitor and white noise machine, and probably some other miscellaneous things I forgot to list. This list unfortunately does not include my recent purchase of maternity clothes and nursing tops that my mom is bringing me from the US, but I have to try all those on to see if they fit before I know how much I will have spent in total. Maybe $100?
Retail value for all that stuff new... I couldn't be bothered looking it all up, but probably around $4-5,000? Some of that stuff I did buy at retail price, mostly because I'm having my mom bring it over from Babies R Us because the exact same item is almost 4x the price here in NZ. So I'm still saving money that way. I tried to find what the "average" person spends on baby stuff, and I found this online calculator which itemized all baby stuff, but it tried to tell me an average crib is $100, and an average breast pump is $25, so I think it's just a weeeee bit off. Anyone who has been shopping for baby items lately knows that those prices are almost comical. A different website I found said the average cost of baby preparation (so basically all the things I mentioned that we have above) including maternity clothes is $6000 USD. So I think I'm doing well!
So what's left to buy, you ask? Well, mostly boring (but essential) stuff... breast pump (can we say expensive!), diaper bag, car accessories (mirror, shade), all baby grooming and medicine cabinet supplies, baby bath tub, shampoo/baby wash/lotions/creams, activity mat, carrycot for the jog stroller (this I don't NEED, but I really want so I might just buy it). Then of course there are things we don't need now, but will need in about 6-8 months... like a high chair, pak n play, baby bowls and spoons and sippy cups, things like that. But then I think that's it! And I even plan on borrowing some of those things if I can to save more money. I already got a bunch of pregnancy and baby books on loan, as well as some maternity and nursing tops. Woohoo for free stuff! Oh yeah, and I still need a convertible car seat for when baby outgrows the infant seat, but I think I'll be buying that back in the US when we visit (the good ones cost $500 NZD... what a rip-off!!).
So maybe total I will spend $2200 USD on baby and all items needed for the first year? This will include birthing classes, all maternity care (because it's, ahem, free), and a 6 week "new baby course". Oh yes, also included are all routine check-ups for baby in the first year (also free). In order to save some more money, there are some items we will not be purchasing... mainly toys and books. That sounds weird, but most of our books will be borrowed from the library that's just around the corner, and there is actually a toy library here as well so I plan on being quite frugal and getting toys from there as baby gets older. Unfortunately this $2200 estimate does NOT include diapers (which we've already established I will NOT be using cloth so disposable diapers will be a regular purchase). But I'd say I'm doing well! I felt the need to justify (to myself) how much money I've spent before my mom gets here and we go shopping, and so I know how much more money I can really afford to spend on our little baby. BABIES ARE EXPENSIVE and she's not even here yet!!
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