Breastfeed! I only bf my first for only 10wks and bf my second for 10mos. The savings were substantial, plus its way easier...double bonus

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Augustmomx2
"Value is not made of money, but a tender balance of expectation & longing"~B Kingsolver

Garage sales! Babies grow so fast and grow out of clothes weekly it seems. I get wonderful clothes at sales each summer! My daughter is 21 months old and she plays with blankets and loves to help me in the kitchen.

Buy good quality, and buy it all USED. Second-hand items are 50-75% less than new, and many items have never even been used by the original owners (ie-a crib that the baby never slept in because the parents put him in their bed, etc) You can get good quality, nice things, use them thru all your kids, and usually sell them for what you paid for them.

You will get more tiny newborn clothes at your shower than your baby will ever wear. If you can do so tastefully, request something like diapers or other things that will be an ongoing expense for you instead of clothes. Then get on Craigslist and buy enough clothes to get your little one thru his first year for about $50. (or get on Freecycle and get them for free) return the favor by passing them on to someone else when you are done.

Your baby needs YOU, not stuff. He doesn't care what he wears or where it came from, what he has or how much you paid for it. He just wants to be warm and safe and snuggled up with his parents!

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Not buying anything new for a year! Check my blog www.2simplify-lessismore.blogspot.com