7 Unexpected Ways to Stretch Your Baby Budget
While babies are bundles of joy, they’re also bundles of new expenses. The good news? A little creativity—and a few clever hacks—can help stretch your budget without skimping on comfort, convenience or fun. From swapping toys to scoring free resources, these money-saving tricks can help offset some of the costs as baby grows, so you can focus more on the joy. Read on for our top tips.
Baby will cycle through three clothing sizes before you even figure out which brand of onesies you like best. Instead of constantly buying new, join your local Buy Nothing group or similar online swaps through social media. You’ll find gently used clothes, baby gear and even unopened boxes of diapers that other families couldn’t use. Just be sure to avoid certain used gear for safety reasons and check for any recalls. Bonus: Once you’re done with things, you can pay it forward to another parent—and keep clutter out of the house!
Are friends and family asking what to get for baby’s first holiday or birthday? Instead of ending up with five more stuffed animals and three duplicate toys, you or your family and friends can set up a fee-free Cash App pool* to share the cost of big-ticket items and invite each other to contribute funds into one place. This way, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends can pitch in on something baby truly needs like a stroller, crib or parent/baby swim lessons (more on that below). Even better, gifters don’t need to have Cash App to contribute–they can use Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Those Mommy and Me music and toddler tumbling classes add up, but following studios and kid-friendly businesses in your area on social media means you’re the first to know about flash sales or seasonal discounts. These businesses may also offer open houses, trial classes or free community events, so there’s no need to sign up for a semester’s worth of classes until you know it’s a good fit for your family.
Libraries can be the unsung heroes of the early parenting days. Beyond books, many now loan out toys, museum passes and even baby gear. Add in free storytimes, toddler playgroups and digital perks, like audiobooks or learning apps, and you’ve got hours of free entertainment. Nonprofits, local utilities and pediatrician and hospital groups also offer free courses, safety checks (such as car seat installation) and support groups, saving you from more fees.
Let’s be honest, no one wants to do an emergency late-night diaper run. Setting up online subscriptions often gets you a discount and takes one more thing off your mental load (hello, auto-ship). Think: diapers, wipes, formula, and even those weird puffed baby snacks that disappear in two seconds.
Kids grow fast—and so do the costs. Instead of shelling out for new wardrobes or gear every few months, team up with nearby parents to borrow and share. From strollers and swings to piles of outgrown clothes, you’ll save serious money, cut down on clutter and build real connections with families in your neighborhood. And it doesn’t all have to be free: Selling gently used big-ticket items can help put money back in your pocket for the new things you need.
Do you know other local families with young children? Consider starting a nanny share as an alternative childcare plan. It’s a win-win: Your kids get built-in playmates, and you get to share the care you need without draining your budget. Cash App pools can help streamline the payment part, allowing you to collect funds from all the nanny-sharing parents in one place (no matter what payment platform they use). For one-off occasions like date nights or child-free events, consider forming a childcare co-op with trusted families—you watch their little ones this week; they return the favor next week.
Whether it’s chipping in for a gift or planning your baby shower and eventually, play dates, Cash App pools makes it easy to gather funds upfront, so one person isn’t left footing the bill. To get started, visit Cash.app.
*Disclosure: Pools provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. New York residents must use their Cash App account to contribute to a pool.
