Do we really have to spend all this money?

By now, you are amazed by the size of the baby products industry. Even if you have had the best and biggest baby shower this year, you are probably reeling with the cost of baby gear and accessories. You should.

The USDA says that households earning $70,000+ will spend upwards of $15,000 in the first two years of a baby’s life and will spend $250,000 or more on each child through age eighteen.  

Hopefully, you have found relatives and friends to lend you as much baby stuff as possible. This is not the moment to be proud, shy, embarrassed, or fearful of being considered cheap and stingy. Everyone who has had a baby is shocked by how much stuff you buy that literally has a usage life of 3 months and is worthless to you, except as further ornamentation for your garage or attic crawlspace.

A classic example is the baby bath tub. Sleek and pastel-colored, and relatively cheap, this is an easy item to throw into the cart.

The only exception may be the post-infant baby car seat. Since this seat is used for about 3 years, every safety organization recommends you do not buy used at a garage sale, but only use new seats or those from friends and family so you know their history.