Before you get upset and think that I clothe my son in burlap sacks, read the rest of the article. Kid’s clothes are ridiculously expensive. New parents have a tendency to go overboard on everything including toys and clothes. I believe and my wife and I have certainly proven that there is no reason to go broke raising children.
So you found out your going to having a child. What goes through your head? Certainly thoughts of a changing life and large expenses are what most soon to be parents think about. I can’t help with the life change, that’s something you’ll both love and perhaps hate at times, after you’ve gotten up for the fourth time at night you’ll know what I mean.
I can however, help you stay out of the poorhouse. If you’re the father you may not have much choice in the matter but it’s important you make your opinion heard. Typically the mother has most of the control over the purchase of furniture for the nursery, clothes and toys. What mom does is critical for the financial health of the family. One of the DUMBEST purchases is baby clothes.
Again, don’t think I’m advocating dressing them in a little barrel with suspenders or wrapping them up with cardboard and duct tape.
First of all you are going to get more newborn clothes than two or three newborns could possibly wear. Women (aunts, sisters, moms and friends) love to by cute little baby clothes. Between a baby shower at work and by family and the other presents you receive you’ll have way more little clothes than your new little baby can wear.
That little baby won’t be that little for long. Even an average baby is going to outgrow those outfits very fast. Also its much easier to dress your little guy or gal in a onesie and wrap them in a blanket as you’ll be changing a lot of diapers and removing an elaborate outfit each time is going to become tedious fast.
So when their little they don’t wear that many outfits except for special occasions. If your baby is getting baptized then of course there is the expensive gown or suit you “have” to buy. I would avoid those priced over a hundred dollars. In fact you can find some for between twenty to fifty dollars. If you are really lucky, a relative may make one for you free of charge.
The absolute best way to find baby clothes is to shop at rummage (garage or lawn) sales. You’ll be amazed at the sheer number of outfits you can get for pocket change. You can often get outfits for a quarter that cost $25 or more new from stores like Baby Gap. That is a one hundred percent discount! I was amazed at how many brand new outfits my wife would find. Again, babies grow so fast that they can’t possibly wear all the outfits they get. That’s good for you as you can find new outfits for next to nothing.
Out little boy wore a new outfit to daycare everyday for almost the first nine months of his life. He literally had so many new and almost new clothes that he didn’t have the opportunity to wear the same outfit before he outgrew it.
Also buying cheap clothes will make it easier to throw out those stained outfits. Babies get food and other not so pleasant stuff on their outfits all the time. If you know what a blow out is, you’ll understand what gets on these clothes. That stuff doesn’t come out more often than not and you have a ruined outfit. Would you rather have a ruined outfit you bought for fifty cents or when you spend 40 dollars one.
My wife was always amazed by parents who brought their kids in new clothes to her classroom and later got mad when the clothes were ruined. You are dressing kids people! Kids get dirty, they spill and they have accidents. If you’re going to get worked up when your little angel ruins his or her new trousers, you should probably reevaluate your priorities in life. It’s amazingly liberating to toss out or give away stained outfits.
You can take all that money you would have spent on clothes and invest it in a college fund for your little bundle of joy. In the long run that will mean much more than that cute little shirt with kittens on it that you just had to have.
Tags baby clothes Family & Children Saving MoneyRelated Posts
- Are We Spending Too Much On Our Children?
- Retirement Revolution - Part One
- Stages of Life
- Retirement Revolution - Part Two
- Stimulus Payment - Some Will Get Second Chance To Qualify