Saving for a baby. When the stork met the piggy (bank)

Preparing for the arrival of your first child is an exciting time – and there’s plenty you have do to make sure you’re ready!

As well as choosing a baby name, decorating a room and getting their mini wardrobe sorted, your financial situation also becomes a focal point of the next nine months.

Preparing for the arrival of a baby can be a costly exercise, but with the right attention to finances and some creativity you should have no trouble saving for a baby.

How much do you need?

Middle-income families are reportedly now spending up to $458 a week to raise a child, according to a report from AMP and the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling. The cost has skyrocketed in the past five years across all income groups, meaning we are spending more on our little mites. Copping the biggest increase in costs, middle-income families are now spending 50 per cent more than just five years ago. Related: Raising kids doesn’t have to cost $1m

Am I entitled to government support?

To help ease the financial strain that the arrival of your new little nugget will impose, the Department of Human Services has announced that from March 1st 2014, new parents are entitled to receive $2000 for the birth or adoption of a first child (and each child in multiple births) and $1000 for any subsequent children.

Babies and interest

In some cases, a baby’s announcement into the world is a surprise, but if you’re planning for a baby then make sure you use your head start to get saving. Use your time wisely and begin your saving as early on as possible. Aim to start with just $1000 then ramp up your savings plan and put the $458 children are estimated to cost weekly into an account returning up to 4.5 per cent per annum.

Find a savings account that will reward your efforts

Boost your savings efforts with a high interest savings account that increases your interest rate when you meet your goals. For example, the RaboDirect saver account offers 4.76% p.a. which is calculated daily and paid month, with absolutely no fees. Compare with these Top 10 high interest savings accounts

Family value

They say that you will never need your friends and family more than when you’re having a baby. You might also find their gifts become invaluable to you, with loved ones often forking out for expensive prams, cots, car seats and more. To avoid feeling embarrassed or cheeky for asking, consider creating a baby gift registry at a leading department store like David Jones. There you can list everything that you need in order to care for your baby, and you’re able to select the styles and brands that you prefer to avoid any awkward gift opening moments.

Shop online

For every new parent chasing the latest pram or baby gadget, there’s another that is looking to get some cash back on items their child has outgrown. Searching eBay, Gumtree and baby forums can pay off quickly, and you’ll often come away with nearly new and unused items.

Keep saving

Once a baby arrives, the costs are set to increase. You have to feed, change, clean and clothe them. If you are deciding whether to breastfeed or formula feed your newborn, then take into consideration the expenses. The costs of formula feeding will only increase as your little one grows and starts drinking more. Also, consider bulk buying your nappies, wipes and baby lotions as they will generally be cheaper than buying individual packs.

Planning ahead

You might not be thinking about schooling just yet, but according to ASIC, sending one child to a private high school will set you back an average of $20,000 a year. Therefore, it’s definitely worth putting some money aside each month to ensure you’re not left disappointed when it’s time to choose a school. Related: How to teach kids good money habits and fiscal responsibility

Focus on your savings plan while preparing for the arrival of baby and you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy your time as a new parent, knowing you can give your bundle of joy everything they need.

Written by Hannah Collins, Yahoo!7 Moneyhound – Fetching you a better deal. Moneyhound.com.au is a price comparison site that can help you save money across all your monthly bills. Try it now, it’s free.

Looking for more ways to save?

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Reduce all your bills and save $1,000’s annually
10 Ways to lower your rent

144 Comments

- - mum512198 said
  - 19 Apr 2024
    11:15 am
The article is concise and to the point

- - mom111059 said
  - 31 Jul 2020
    2:00 pm
Some good advice for those who need it.

- - Melissa89 said
  - 26 Jul 2016
    8:36 pm
We are still not quite there but great tips for when we are ready!

- - dannsbuild said
  - 22 Sep 2015
    8:45 pm
Really good knowledge to know! Thanks for sharing this!

- - GeoEllie said
  - 31 Jan 2015
    10:01 am
Very interesting article, thank you

- - mom93821 said
  - 19 Jan 2015
    6:26 am
Thanks again for sharing this article and information; shared with friends as it is important.

- - mom93821 said
  - 09 Jan 2015
    9:47 am
Thanks for sharing this informative article; always good to get some extra tips and take another look at the family budget too.

- - mom94125 said
  - 03 Jan 2015
    8:07 pm
i am really lucky that my mother will contribute money towards my children’s savings. she will get them a present and chuck in a decent amount when it is birthdays or christmas. i love her contribution towards her grandchildren and hopefully i will be in a position to do the same for my grandchildren too

- - smart_ass said
  - 24 Dec 2014
    2:23 pm
very interesting tips that I will need to refer back too

- - stepmom107932 said
  - 07 Dec 2014
    7:21 pm
oh dear. just reading this article is starting to give me a panic attack how will we be able to extend the house and pay for a baby 🙁

- - caramello said
  - 31 Oct 2014
    9:25 pm
Thanks for sharing your helpful tips

- - june11 said
  - 27 Jun 2014
    5:58 pm
Two things I would never buy secondhad is babycapsule/ carseat and the booster seat.
You have no guarantee that they have not been in a vehicle that has been in even the lightest of an accident……unless you know the owner of the vehicle very well and that None of their vehicles have been hit at all.The anchors on it may not be compatable with your vehicle if it is an old seat as happened to a Mum I know who was given one.

- - no1ladydj said
  - 06 Jun 2014
    8:55 pm
Second-hand clothes and furniture that are in good condition are a god-send if you’re on a tight budget and expecting a baby. Some people turn their nose up at using something that’s not either new or the latest fashion, but unless you’ve got money to burn, most of us can’t afford to be like that.

- - eestigirl said
  - 06 Jun 2014
    3:04 pm
I’m not a fan of gift registers either. Lots of times new parents want everything brand new for their first baby, yet the second child is beautifully cared for in what the family already owns. What I mean is, you don’t have to have everything expensive and brand new for the first either if money is an issue. My friends and relatives have always handed down clothing and equipment within their circle to help each other.As long as items meet safety standards I’m all for saving the money for a rainy day.

- - twinmum2 said
  - 31 May 2014
    7:00 pm
Try not to worry about the expense. There are ways to cheapen the expense with second hand items and hand me downs etc.

- - kazh said
  - 29 May 2014
    4:01 pm
I must say the Baby Bonus was a huge help for us. Don’t know how we’d cope with the new allowances.

- - sarah_wardleworth said
  - 14 May 2014
    12:15 am
Good read thanks for the information

- - Happymum-2 said
  - 10 May 2014
    7:17 pm
it is a great idea to start saving once you know your having a baby

- - mumzee said
  - 26 Apr 2014
    1:13 pm
Every last cent counts, and it all adds up really quickly when it is left alone! 🙂

- - mle00 said
  - 05 Apr 2014
    4:11 pm
Babies really need a lot less than we provide them with but it wont stop any new mum buying everything she thinks she may need, this will happen, it helps us feel prepared and in control! Instead buy second hand, most things like prams, cots, baths etc can be found in great condition (bought by mums who realised baby just diddnt need all this ‘stuff!’ so buy big, buy cheap and be prepared to sell on again!
- scottie replied
  
  09 May 2014 , 9:00 am
  my daughter also gets a lot of good deals on ebay for brand new clothes – they grow so quickly so that it can save a lot and what doesn’t get worn can be resold (still new)
  - ginoula5 replied
    
    14 Aug 2014 , 12:49 pm
    
    A lot of great things to buy for bubs on ebay, and so much cheaper for sure.