1. Don’t Panic

First of all, don’t panic. It isn’t uncommon to be having a baby on a budget. It can be done. You just have to be a little creative and financially savvy about it. Be confident in your ability to do this.

2. Apply for Assistance

If you are eligible for any sort of government assistance, apply for it. Of course, it is best if you don’t need it and can make it without it, but it’s okay if that isn’t the case. Remind yourself that the chances are high that you will someday be working and paying taxes to help others that need help. Receiving assistance can make a huge difference in your finances. It can free up money for other things that your baby needs.

3. Shop Secondhand

Shop secondhand for your maternity clothes and things for your baby. Lots of times you can find beautiful secondhand maternity clothing for a very good price. Because women don’t need maternity clothing for more than 6 months or so, it often stays in very good condition to sell secondhand. You can also find a lot of baby clothing and gear in good shape secondhand. Just be careful not to compromise safety standards on things like cribs or car seats. Those two items are probably best bought new.

4. Accept Hand Me Downs

If you are blessed enough to have a friend or family member that wants to hand things down to you, accept them. This can save you a fortune. This is a very generous thing to do, so be grateful for your friend or family member’s generosity. Even if it is just a few maternity tops, it can make a difference in what you have to spend. That money can then go to something else.

5. Allow Your Friends to Throw You a Shower

If your friends want to throw you a baby shower, accept graciously. This can help you with many of the things that you are going to need for your little one. You will probably also receive some gifts you may not have considered buying which is helpful. It’s nice to have seasoned mommies buying gifts from their viewpoint of experience. Besides that, baby showers can be a lot of fun.

6. Compare Prices

When you do have to purchase things for your baby, compare prices. You can do this by comparing paper sales ads or comparing them online. Many times, your favorite store will match the lower price if you show them the deal. If not, go where the savings are. These little savings always add up.

7. Clip Coupons

Coupons can be a new mommy’s best friend. Coupons for items like diapers, wipes, baby bath products and medicines are pretty easy to find. You will be buying a lot of all of those items so take the savings where you can get them. Some stores will even double the coupon value. It is worth checking into your store’s policy to see if this applies.

These are 7 things you can do when you are having a baby on a budget but there are certainly more. What tips have helped you? Share them with other moms here!