Spit-up On My Shoulder

Rachel Muller is a children’s novelist and the mother of three teenagers and a 4-month-old baby girl. After getting over the shock of expecting a fourth child, she and her husband seriously assessed their situation.

Being a seasoned mom, she already knew ways to take care of a baby with very little money. The following are some of her best money and sanity-saving tips for expectant and new moms:

While pregnant:

• Use your frugal skills to decorate. Borrow baby furniture and other equipment from friends or relatives. Collect other items from thrift stores and garage sales. Fill your baby’s dresser with second-hand clothes up through size 6 months or later.

• Stock your kitchen with cooked and frozen meals. Make or purchase upcoming birthday or holiday gifts. Buy postage and supplies for birth announcements and thank you cards.

• Consider the cost savings of breastfeeding vs. bottlefeeding and cloth diapers vs. disposable diapers.

After the baby arrives:

• Make a to-do list every night. You won’t necessarily expect to get everything done, but at least you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction. Learn what you can do with one hand, with two hands, and what you need both hands and all of your concentration to do. This will help you use your time more efficiently.

• Before you go to sleep, lay out clothes for the next day. This will help you get a quicker, less stressful start in the morning.

• Think simple at mealtime. Simple meals like grilled cheese and tomato soup with carrot sticks, or scrambled eggs and toast for dinner never hurt anybody! When you are able to cook something more elaborate, make double batches so you can have leftovers the next day.

• Don’t spend a lot of time in front of the TV. It is an energy zapper. Read books from the library or listen to books on tape while you’re feeding your baby. Use a clip to hold down the pages if necessary.

• Get some exercise every day. Walk with the baby in the stroller or a sling, or workout with an exercise DVD (you can check them out at the library). Exercise can play a huge role in your energy level and mental health.

• Don’t be a Superwoman. New mothers with “Superwoman” complexes are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression. Aside from the pain this can cause and the extra burden it places on a woman and her family, it’s
also a surefire way to throw a budget out the window! So clear your calendar, relax your housekeeping and food preparation standards, and accept offers of help.

• Mother/child groups can be a lifesaver. They give you somewhere to go outside of the house, somewhere to meet other parents who are going through similar experiences, and somewhere for your baby to socialize as well. They also can include clothing swaps, potluck meals, babysitting exhanges etc…, so there is a money-saving element built in to them. Check your church, community center, local baby store, or other places parents hang out to find a group.

• Look to older women who are doing exciting things as role models. There is life after babies and young children!

One final comment from Rachel: “Right now I’m really trying to enjoy my baby daughter as much as possible. I’ve had to put some aspects of my life on hold temporarily, but this time around I’m more relaxed about that. I know how fast the weeks/months/years really do go by.”