When we were expecting our first we knew the money would be tight. We both worked at a low paying company considering our experience & title. Adding to that the price of living in southern California is high. We could have moved to an area that cost less but it would have cost too much to move, too far and in the wrong direction from work, or not an area we want our children raised. After a lot of discussions, we felt that we couldn’t let money be the deciding factor in where we live. We knew if we budgeted correctly we could make it work. Let me tell you we’ve never been good at budgeting but when you have kids you make those sacrifices that you never would have in the past. So we started figuring what we needed, not what we wanted but what we needed.
Here are somethings we found and discovered along the way.
Shared Room Hack
If you live in a 1 bedroom, or you plan to have a sibling share a room with the baby, paint a section of the room to create a space for the baby. We painted a section of our room purple having it end at the corner of the dresser so it feels like a little room for her without needing an extra bedroom.
Speaking of one-bedrooms we’ve stayed in a one-bedroom through both kids. They have shared our room with us and it has worked out great. As a dad, I sleep much better having my family close by. Besides, when your baby is born they don’t really need their own room. it’ll just be extra steps that you’ll have to walk in the middle of the night.
Now before I get strung up by the masses. I know that soon that room sharing will not be possible because our daughter and son will need separate rooms but for now it works.
Refinish Furniture
If you have a spare dresser but it doesn’t fit the theme of the room do what I did and refinish it. We had 3 drawer dresser from Ikea but matched our other brown wood veneer dressers. I took it out to our small patio, sanded the top glossy layer off, and painted it white to go with her room. I’ve seen whole room sets go for 100’s- 1000’s of dollars. WHY? Why spend that much when you can do it yourself. What I love about it is I love putting that hard work in on something for my family.
Buy Grow With Me Products
Stroller
We have a great stroller but unfortunately the brand went out of business but really you just want to get one that will work from newborn to 5-6 ( trust me they may not want to ride in it but it sure beats carrying them when they sleep or out helps carry all the stuff you have to tote around with you on a daily basis.
Crib
Get a crib that goes from newborn to toddler, where the side comes off, that way you are getting the full value out of the item. We got one from IKEA and it has worked with both kids and will be passed to our daughter who is on the way.
Pack & Play
We use this one mostly on the go actually. both of our kids hated being in it at home but we found it to be a great bed when traveling and it doesn’t take up much space considering how useful it is. we’ve used it in hotel rooms when they baby can’t sleep in one of the big beds and don’t want him to crawl off one of those fold-out toddler foam couches. We even took this camping and just set it up in the middle of the tent. It works great to just keep the child confined to an area when they are still too young to trust through the night.
Utilize Baby Registries
This one is 2 fold. Of course, use it for people to purchase stuff for the baby if they want. Also, use it to get discounts at the end and buy your big-ticket items at that time if you haven’t already been gifted them.
Get Collapsible Or Multi-Use Items
Don’t go get those products that you can’t move without taking it apart like a lot of bouncers. Cute but a pain to get around when you have limited space. Save space and money with multi-use items. For example, I refinished a 3 drawer Ikea dresser and we use that for the baby stuff and the top we use as a changing table. To buy a changing table when you already need a dresser for the baby is a waste of space.
Clothes Swap
If it’s your second child but first of the gender swap with friends that have the opposite of you. We swap with 2 friends, one has an older boy and a younger girl and the other has an older girl and younger boy. So we trade clothes, that we are not attached to, with them. That way we only have to buy special clothes that we really want them to have.
Utilize Wasted Space In Your Apartment
If you live in an apartment you know there is a ton of wasted space inside.
Utilize Wall Space For Shelves.
We have about 8-10 shelves up for all different purposes. Backup diapers, wipes, a humidifier, stuffed animals, useless junk (that she won’t let me throw away), lamps, nightlights, you get my drift we really utilize our walls to maximize or living space.
Over-the-Door Organizers
Not only for your wife’s high heels that you have been rolling your ankle on for the last few years but also for baby washcloths, wipes, hats, just about anything.
Cubby Shelves
They are great when you want to organize without it being an eyesore. You will get so many kids toys & stuffed animals that you will feel overrun. If you get a few of the cubby shelves and those square storage cubes then just stick stuff in groups like all mega blocks in one stuffed animals in another and your place will be looking better.
Consignment
We go to like Urban Consignment that is a pop-up consignment place that specializes in kids and baby products. If you can find one of those in your area check it out. You can find a lot of great items. Some still have tags on them it’s a great place to buy anything from dollhouses, legos, books, beds, diaper bags, strollers, and so much more and usually at a great price. We usually get $1-$4 items and spend around $80 and walk out with a bag of clothes some of which still have the tags on them.
Shop Bulk
Check clubs (Costco & Sams Club) for the sales on bulk items. We always get our diapers at Costco once the baby has slowed down & we have a good idea on when their next diaper size increase will be coming. Other things we like to get there either on sale or all the time is eggs (momma and you are going to need your protein), wipes (if they are carrying our brand), easy to cook items, cereal, coffee beans, and paper plates ( dishes are a pain when you are getting used to a new baby).
Meal Prep
This one is huge both before the baby gets here and after. Before you can make full dishes, sides, breakfast sandwiches, just about anything. If it’s after the baby is here you can still prep to save money and to make those nights that you are too tired to cook a little easier.
This is something I should have done with the first two kids but I will be definitely doing it before this baby comes. Why it’s so important, especially the more kids you have? For one, you are going to be exhausted. Having something you can just pop in the oven from the freezer will feel like you won the lottery when you still have to bathe the kids, help with homework or just want to sit down and hold your newborn while you watch Monday Night Football.
Secondly, you have better control over your food when you cook it. I’ve eaten a lot of delivery especially late at night. The last thing you want to do is gain the Father 40. I gained 25 lbs when we have our daughter. The only reason I didn’t gain with my son is that I biked to work every day. With this one, I’ve gained between 10-15 lbs already and I still have 4 months of holiday eating to go.
Lastly, the time you get to spend with your family that doesn’t involve rushing around trying to get them to school, cooking, bath, getting to work, is limited. Use that time you would be cooking to enjoy your family before it passes.
THINGS NOT TO DO
Get Second-Hand Car Seats
If you didn’t know this is very dangerous. You don’t know how old it is if it’s been in a car accident, or how well it’s been taken care of. For all that you know, it could have been sitting on a patio or in a shed.
Buy The “Nice To Have” Items.
Don’t purchase “would be nice to have” items the first time around. Below is a list of a few of those.
Bottle Warmer
Bottle warmers are pointless a measuring cup filled to 1 cup microwave for 2 minutes and put the bottle in it and just keep checking it. works just as good.
Diaper Genie
The Diaper Genie is an ok item but not super necessary, you’ll have to take it out every other day. You are better off just getting a trash can with a lid and an odor eliminator that suits your smell preference.
Wipe Warmer
Though my son might appreciate it we didn’t bother with this as we found this item to be a luxury that wasn’t necessary.
A Lot Of Newborn Clothes
You will get a lot of that as gifts. By chance, if you don’t get them as a gift and you find yourself short on those then you can just go out and get a few extras. Beside babies grow so fast, especially boys. My son has always been way ahead of the suggested size on the clothes. at 12 months he was in 18 months, at 18 months he’s already in 24-month clothes.
Let Your Spouse Go Over Bored
I know like you have a say. All seriousness though, if you are on a budget you will most likely have to remind your wife “Hunny I think we can wait on that, the baby won’t be needing a walker, or a bunch of toys, stuffed animals, little shoes, for the first few months.” I bet by the time your baby needs those items something else will come out that’s even better.
So there is a list of tricks and tips I have learned along my journey of fatherhood. I hope you find them helpful and if you have discovered and other tips feel free to share them in the comments below.
