Thrifty Ideas for Nursing Moms

Are you a nursing mom who would love to stay home with your baby but are worried about finances? This post is for you! There are several good books out there that you might helpful. If your library doesn’t have the books, request them through interlibrary loan or see if they are available through Hoopla or other e-book type services most libraries provide:

Living with Less So Your Family Has More

You Can Stay Home with Your Kids

Celebrate Home

The Heart Has Its Own Reasons

Here are some cost saving ideas:

1) Breastfeeding saves a lot of money! No formula, sterile water, bottles, pacifiers, pumps, milk collection bags or bottle warmers required!

2) Consider co-sleeping! Both Dr. James McKenna and Dr. William Sears suggest safe ways to co-sleep with your baby. Then you will possibly not need a crib (if you choose the bed sharing option of co-sleeping).

3) Consider cloth diapers. Nowadays they have really nice velcro or buttoned diaper covers, too. These can be reused for multiple children.

4) Consider saving and storing your children’s outgrown clothes for future children (if you have the space). Just label the container with the size (and possibly the gender).

5) Consider making your own baby food. You can make a puree of a fruit, vegetable, or meat in a small blender with a little bit of water and then distribute the mixture into ice cube trays that have covers and freeze. Then at meal time, defrost the amount your baby needs.

6) Make some food from scratch. This does require some time, so if you are a very new nursing mom, you may want to wait a few months until your baby is a little older to implement this.

7) Look into minimalism. The idea behind minimalism is that you focus on what is important to you and what you enjoy. You learn to become more intentional about the things you buy. 

8) Look for free or low cost entertainment options in your area. You can borrow DVDs from the library and make some popcorn at home instead of going out to the movies. Put together a picnic basket of food from home and go on a picnic. Go hiking or for a walk with baby in a carrier or stroller. Invite a friend over for coffee and a homemade treat at your house instead of going out. Watch for discount days at museums. Visit state or national parks for vacations.

9) If your family uses credit cards, some have special programs where you get money back or points towards airplane tickets.

10) Consider using generics at the grocery store. Some generic items are identical to the similar brand name item. 

11) If you really want to stay home with your nursing baby but housing prices are too high for where you live, you could consider a smaller, less expensive place. This may not always be possible but it is just something to consider.

12) If you live in an area with public transportation, you could consider having only one car for your family. 

13) Have a few friends come over to your house with clothes they want to part with and have a clothing exchange party!

14) If internet costs too much in your area, you could use your local library for internet use. I know that internet access has become more of an essential utility, but that could be another way to cut costs if necessary. Just something to consider!

15) Consider growing your own vegetables or other foods. Your town may have a gardening club that can give you advice.

I hope you found some cost saving ideas to try and that your dream of becoming a SAHM will come true!

Written by Gina Peterson

Do you have any cost saving ideas you would like to share? Please mention them in the comments below. Thanks!