DEAR SARA: I just found out that I’m pregnant, and I want to be prepared for baby expenses. I don’t see the need to spend a lot of money, but it’s difficult to pinpoint where frugality stops and excess begins. It’s such an exciting time. Can you offer a few frugal baby tips? — Rachel, e-mail
DEAR RACHEL: Congratulations! There are many choices and decisions when it comes to baby supplies and gear.
One thing I would not be frugal on is safety, so keep that in mind when buying products. I don’t recommend buying a secondhand car seat unless you know it has not been compromised. If you purchase secondhand gear such as high chairs, toys and playpens, be sure to check for manufacturer recalls. You can find that information on the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
DIAPERING: Consider using cloth diapers. They’re not for everyone, but they have Velcro enclosures now that make them convenient. Liners make changing easier, too. If you opt for disposable diapers, register on manufacturer lists to receive coupons (these are often available at your doctor’s office) and ask around for diaper coupons. You can make homemade baby wipes by cutting a roll of heavy-duty paper towels in half (or your own cloth wipes by using flannel and sherpa or baby washcloths) and adding 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons baby oil and baby wash.
CLOTHING: Ask around and see whether anyone has any baby clothes they don’t need. You can save a lot of money if you’re willing to clothe your baby in secondhand clothing from friends, thrift stores, consignment shops and garage sales. Babies grow quickly, so be practical when it comes to newborns. For example, sleepers instead of fancy outfits would be money spent wisely. Remember that newborns don’t need shoes. That’s a want, not a need. Clothing options are even greater online, where you can swap clothes and buy new and used clothes inexpensively at places such as Freecycle.org, eBay.com and swapthing.com to name a few. Once your baby has outgrown them, you can swap them or resell them. Stay organized and make a list of basic nursery necessities to prevent impulse purchases.
FEEDING: Consider breast-feeding instead of bottle-feeding. If you prefer to bottle-feed, be sure to register with the formula company for free samples or ask your obstetrician for samples. You can also make your own baby food. I recommend the book “Super Baby Food” by Ruth Yaron (F.J. Roberts, 1998). If you plan to buy baby food, use coupons to lower the cost.
UNECESSARY ITEMS: It’s easy to splurge on baby items. If you want to stay on budget, don’t forget that some items just aren’t necessary. You don’t need a wipes warmer, diaper genie, tons of baby toys, baby detergent or even a changing table, if you think about it. However, only you can decide what you don’t want to live without.
译文:
为你孩子的大学教育存钱
亲爱的莎拉：我刚刚发现我怀孕了。我想为宝宝的开销作好准备。我没有看出要花很多钱的需要，但是要精确地找出哪里需要节俭或者哪里不应该节约却很难。
我感到非常兴奋。你能给予我一些节省宝宝开销的建议么？——雷切尔，电子邮件。
亲爱的雷切尔：恭喜你！当要购买婴儿用品时，我们可以有很多选择和决定。
我一定不会节约的一个方面就是安全，所以当你在购买东西的时候，务必将此牢记于心。除非你知道已经没有其它选择，否则我是不会建议你去购买一个二手车座。如果你要购买如儿童用高脚椅、玩具和婴儿用围栏之类的二手婴儿用品，务必搜索核对制造商的信息。你可以在http://www.cpsc.gov/美国消费品安全委员会的网站上面找到相关信息。
换尿布：考虑要使用尿布。这些尿布虽然不是为每个婴儿设计的，但是它们有着尼龙搭链，更为便捷。同时，衬垫也使得更换尿布更加方便。如果你选择一次性尿布，请在生产商的名单上登记以便得到优惠券（你通常可以从医生的办公室拿到这些优惠券），也可以四处询问求得尿布的优惠券。你可以把一卷重型纸巾剪成两半制成婴儿用湿纸巾（或者使用法兰绒和纯棉或婴儿面巾制成你自己的湿布巾），再加上两杯水和两调羹婴儿洗涤剂洗涤。
衣服：四处询问，看看是否有人有不用的婴儿衣服。如果你愿意给你宝宝穿上从你朋友、旧货店和寄货店等处得到的二手婴儿衣服，你就可以省下一大笔钱。婴儿长得很快，因此你有小孩之后要实际点。例如，把钱花在枕木上要比花在一些新奇的用具上要明智得多。请记住，新生儿不需要鞋子。那只是需求，而不是必须。网上，婴儿衣服的选择范围甚至更多。如在Freecycle.org, eBay.com 和 swapthing.com等网站，你可以以衣服作交易，还可以廉价地买到新旧衣服。一旦你的宝宝长得穿不了那些衣服，你就可以把它们再作交易或转售他人。保持条理性，给基本的幼儿必需品列个清单，以防一时冲动而消费。
喂食：请考虑用母乳喂养取代奶瓶喂养。如果你喜欢用奶瓶喂奶，请确保向婴儿食品公司登记，以获得免费样品或者向你的产科医生索要样品。你也可以自制婴儿食品。我推荐Ruth Yaron (F.J. Roberts,1998)写的Super Baby Food 一书。如果你计划购买婴儿食品，请使用优惠券来降低费用。
不必要的物品：在婴儿用品上挥霍非常简单。如果你想把开支控制在预算之内，不要忘记有些仅仅是不必要的东西。你不需要湿巾加热器、尿布精灵、婴儿玩具、婴儿清洁剂甚至可调桌，如果你也在考虑它的话。然而，只有你自己可以决定什么东西是你不希望没有的。