If you're not out to impress anyone, then you're in great shape to save as much money as you'd like when it comes to having babies. But if you're all about impressing, then you might want to give up the frugal fight now, because it's going to be an uphill battle.
I think it's important to keep everything in perspective, and I love to think of short term and long term financial goals. If you can keep your goals in mind, then it makes it easier to pass up that precious baby outfit at The Children's Place, when you know you've got adorable hand-me-downs at home. You'll have to figure out what your financial goals are. Maybe you want to be debt free, including your house note. Maybe you want to be able to continue supporting missionaries, continue tithing to your local church family, and give extra when needs are presented. Perhaps you want to help your children pay for college. When I see things I want for my child now, I often think that $10 spent now is $100 down the road (or more) that could really benefit her. I also try to ask myself the more important questions about finances and all of life: Does this glorify God? Is this a reflection of what I treasure? Because I treasure Christ above all. Having more stuff reflects that I value the temporary, not the eternal.
And while financial goals are very important, money isn't more important than values. My husband and I felt led that I should be a stay-at-home mom, and that was something impressed on us by the Lord 9 years ago, when we were still engaged. I left a very good job to be at home with my daughter, and if saving money & paying our house off early were more important to us than anything else, then I would never have quit that job.
So keep it all in perspective. Don't be a slave to saving, but don't be a slave to spending either.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:21
This is the final post in the series Babies on a Budget. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject and I hope you've enjoyed reading mine. -Gabby
Gabby, I found your blog through another blog and have enjoyed reading your posts, espcially the babies on a budget. We just had our first child and have been watching our money very closely. We are truley blessed by family and friends and have spent very little on our daughter. I began buying diapers and wipes during my pregnancy by clipping coupons and watching ads and soon switched to cloth as I knew I could use them for future children. We chose not to find out the sex of our baby before birth so that we could prepare neutrally for allfuture children. I haven't bought a single article of clothing but have been blessed by families that are done raising children and have given me boxes and boxes of clothing. We too felt that our money was not our own but belonged to the Lord and while we never want our daughter to be in need, we dont feel it was a wise use of our resources to buy new. The only major items or toy that we have new are the car seat and crib and that was for safety reasons. Because of our choices, and being able to breastfeed, our daughter has not really adjusted our regular monthly budget. I know this will not always be the case but it was a nice transition to a family of 3. I, too, hope to be able to stay at home after the first of the year and more sacrifices will need to be made. Although not a right or promise, we feel that God is making a way for me to stay home with our children. Thanks for the posts, may God continue to bless you.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found it and hope you find it encouraging. The Lord has blessed our efforts at living frugally too, and has provided mightily through friends and family. We find that even though our daughter is nearly 2, she has little to no effect on our monthly budget. Of course we do have to feed her, but she eats the same things that we eat, so there's not a huge effect on our grocery budget. I hope you'll be able to stay home. It's such a blessing.
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