1. CREATE A LIST OF ITEMS YOU WANT

Everything baby is cute, adorable and a must-have in the moment. Having a list of the items you want and need for your specific space with hopefully stop you from buying miscellaneous items with no purpose, just for the cuteness factor.

2. SHOP FROM THE LIST

Once you’ve created your list, remember to only shop the list, otherwise, you can get swayed by amazing marketing (ask me how I know).

If having a paper list is with you is unrealistic, consider using a private registry or the list feature on an app, my favorite free list sharing app is Cozi. My husband and I use it for any list of shared items. Psst. It’s great for groceries lists too!

3. BE CREATIVE

If you have an amazing skill, put it to use to make your baby space unique and special. If you don’t have a creative gene, recruit friends and family or it that all fails, there are pretty wall decals that can make your space look cool and custom.

4. DO-IT-YOURSELF 

Don’t be afraid to do simple projects yourself. I spent months searching for the perfect dresser and never found anything that fit my budget and my taste. I ended up doing an IKEA hack of two Rast dressers. I still use that dresser today. It’d look cheesy in an adult bedroom but for a kid-friendly nursery, it’s perfect. If you need art for your space, check out this easy and inexpensive way to DIY custom art.

5. BE STRATEGIC ABOUT YOUR BABY REGISTRY

Baby registries are great for letting people know exactly what you want and need. And people are usually pretty generous when it comes to giving for the baby. You could just add everything to the registry and wait to see what you get, or you can be strategic.

• Add things that can wait until baby arrives, like sheets and blankets.
• Don’t add items that you want to have ready before your baby arrives.

6. ORGANIZE AND DESIGN BEFORE SHOPPING

It’s easy to end up with lots of stuff and no place for it all. This can mean a closet full of stuff you forget that you have and end up re-purchasing.

Instead, think about how you will organize the space you designated for your baby.

• If the baby will be in your room, plan for spacing saving furniture and organization bins that allow everything to be visible and easily accessible.
• Use labels and baskets.
• Multipurpose items. For example, your dresser (if large enough) can also be a changing table, your seating can also be storage, and your bookshelves can also hold bins and small baby items. Be resourceful.

Also remember, items that are too big or small can make a room look cluttered.

7. BUY THINGS AS YOU NEED THEM

It’s so tempting to buy everything at once, but there are things you don’t need right away and keeping those items around can lead to unnecessary clutter. Save money until you need to spend. For example, I didn’t childproof the house until our baby got mobile, before then it was unnecessary. Now we have gates and locks everywhere.

8. ALWAYS PRICE-CHECK

I love shopping online so I use and highly recommend Amazon Prime to all new momma, the free 2-day shipping is everything. Start a free 30-day trial today. Even though I love Amazon, I never want to get in the habit of assuming Amazon has the least expensive price just because shopping with them is extremely easy. They don’t. I know this because we usually price-check several locations before making most purchases. 

9. KEEP IT SIMPLE

A nursery or baby zone just needs to be a comfortable space where you can nurse or feed, change diapers, store clothing, and small baby items, and relax and bond. Not a lot is needed to accomplish these simple tasks, no matter what that salesperson tells you.

Something as simple as a paint job can make the room feel spacious or calming, bins can help with storage and organization, and both are expensive things that make a huge difference.

10. CONSIDER SECONDHAND

Somethings should never be secondhand, like your car seat (you have to ensure it has never been in an accident) but other furniture and clothing items are perfectly acceptable as secondhand.  So, if you have a family member or friend that is just moving out of the baby stage with tons of stuff to give away, don’t be shy.

If you are going second hand be sure to still watch out for recalled items and items with toxins like lead.

In fact, there are some purchases you can skip altogether. Check out a list of common baby items you don’t need. While every baby is different, I hope you find it helpful. As first-time parents, we purchased lots of stuff we didn’t need and I want to help you save money for the things that really matter.