I remember some extra rough years growing up. My family qualified for public assistance, but my parents never took advantage of the government aid that was there. Partly because of pride and the other part because they weren’t aware of all the help that was available. There’s no shame in the times when you need help, especially if you are a single parent. Moms have it hard enough already. Everyone struggles in their own way. I wish my parents had sought out public assistance, it would have made things a little easier growing up.

Lots of families experience financial hardship here and there, even for families with two working parents on the line like mine. After becoming a first-time mom this year during COVID-19 and struggling through those brutal first months, I just can’t grasp how insanely difficult it must be for single moms who only have limited income sources. According to a report from the US Census Bureau, 30% of families with single mothers are under the poverty line. 

With some diligent research for a newly single mommy pal of mine, I was able to compile a resource list of U.S. government (both state & federal) deployed programs to aid single parents on a continuous basis. Here are some of the most popular financial aids for single moms (and dads) with no or low income.

Note: This list is applicable to only U.S. residents.

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Financial Aid For Single Moms

1. Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF)

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF is one of the major financial aids by the government. With this program, qualified participants can receive cash, childcare, and work aid from their local government. Cash assistance is based on the parent’s household income and the number of dependencies under 18 years old. 

Requirements:

• A child or children under 18 years old 
• Monthly income meets the income guideline

Official Website: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/tanf

2. The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) 

The Women, Infants, and Children Program or WIC is a federally administered program aimed towards pregnant women, infants, and children under 5 years old. Participants who are at “nutritional risk” are prioritized. When eligible, the participant usually receives monthly food packages or vouchers they can use to purchase specific food items. 

Requirements:

• Children up to 5 years old
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• People who are at “nutritional risk”
• Homeless people and migrants with “nutritional risk”

Official Website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic

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3. Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)

The Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program or FMNP is a program that lets beneficiaries buy eligible fruits and vegetables from participating farmer’s markets at a discounted price. Coupons received via FMNPP can be used on these locations: local farmers, farmers’ markets, and roadside stands. Since FMNP is connected to WIC, WIC beneficiaries are automatically eligible to receive benefits. 

Requirements:

• Same with WIC program

Official Website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/fmnp/wic-farmers-market-nutrition-program

4. Unemployment Insurance 

Unemployment Insurance is a government program that gives help to unemployed individuals who are not the fault of their situation. Each state has its own different rules, so check out the link below benefits expectations and application process in your state. This benefit usually lasts up to 26 weeks to help you get a boost in job searching. 

Requirements:

• Unemployed through no fault (it means that getting fired or quitting a job is not valid)
• Must meet wage requirement in the current state 

Official Website (Find Your State): https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/UnemploymentBenefits/find-unemployment-benefits.aspx

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5. Additional Child Tax Credit

Known as Child Tax Credit or CTC, this program lets family breadwinners deduct tax credit to the income tax amount.  Anyone with children under 17 can claim tax credits. The tax credit will depend on the number of children you have in your family. If your payable tax amount is reduced to zero after subtracting tax credit, the amount you owe is also reduced to zero. In addition, you can refund up to $1,400.

Requirements:

• Must have children under 17 years old at the end of the tax year
• Adjust gross income of $200,000 or less

Official Website: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/earned-income-tax-credit-income-limits-and-maximum-credit-amounts

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Electronic Benefits Transfers (EBT):

6. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 

This program is the biggest food assistance program of the US Government. SNAP is formerly known as Food Stamps, but are renamed last 2008. It is very similar to WIC in essence, but the eligibility and benefits are different. The WIC program is focused more on women and children who are having difficulties in getting food to remain healthy. On the other hand, SNAP has a larger scope and benefits but has more restrictive eligibility requirements. Beneficiaries of SNAP will also receive discounts when shopping in a SNAP Retailer store.

I tried to get myself on the SNAP challenge as an experiment and failed miserably.

Requirements:

• The beneficiary must have a household monthly income below 130 percent of the poverty line ($1,778 for a 3-person family as of 2020)
• State-level specific requirements

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7. National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

The National School Lunch Program or NSLP is a federal program that is available for both public and nonprofit private schools around the country. It provides free or low-cost lunch for children who are members of low-income families. Schools should provide meals that meet the standards set by the Food and Nutrition Service and the United States Department of Agriculture. 

Requirements:

• If the child’s family participates in SNAP 
• If the child is enrolled in any Head Start Program
• Family size and income 
• Children who live with families living below the poverty line
• Check the income guideline here

8. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

TEFAP is another food assistance program from the US Department of Agriculture. USDA foods are distributed to people who qualify for these benefits. Each state has its own guidelines for food distribution (food that beneficiaries receive can change depending on the market and agricultural conditions). Instead of directly giving vouchers or food packets, TEFAP partners with local agencies to distribute the food (e.g. food banks, soup kitchens, etc). You can check out the list of food usually distributed by TEFAP in this webpage.

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Free Health Care And Education Programs

9. Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

The Children Health Insurance Program provides healthcare for children under low-income families. Healthcare services like routine check-ups, prescriptions, dental and vision care, immunizations, and inpatient/outpatient care are covered with this program. Although each state covers CHIP, the requirement varies from one state to another. You can apply for benefits by calling 1-800-318-2596 or via the Health Insurance Marketplace online. 

Requirements: 

Check with your state for more specific requirements and information about CHIP. 

10. Pell Grant

Single moms who want o go back to school can take advantage of the Pell Grant, a federal program that gives assistance for low-income students. Unlike student debt, you don’t really have to pay the government to give you cash assistance. The help you will receive is usually the gap between your expected family contribution and your cost of attendance. For example, if your cost of attendance is about $15,000, but you can only pay for $10,000, the remaining $5,000 will be shouldered by the program. 

Requirements: 

• FAFSA form
• Citizen of the United States
• Enrolled in a certificate or degree program at a participating college
• Undergraduate or vocational students only

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Housing And Utility Bills Help

11. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Housing Assistance

The Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD provides subsidies for low-income families. HUD will work directly with property owners to lessen up the rent expense of families in the program. Because of this, the family beneficiaries will only pay for a discounted monthly rent expense. 

Requirements: 

• Applicants must past the income limit requirement (check out the income limit requirement here)

12. Low Income Energy Beal Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Low Income Home Emergency Assistance Program is another financial assistance that aims to help low-income families by reducing their utility bills. Like HUD, the government works directly with energy providers for the LIHEAP aid. Eligible families can choose between one-time winter assistance that can range from $45 to $450 or a crisis intervention program where the utilities are about to be shut off due to payment difficulties. The second option can net $300 worth of benefits during the summer and $800 during the winter. 

Requirements: 

• LIHEAP income eligibility (check your local LIHEAP office) 

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State-Specific Aid Programs

Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) 

The Minnesota Family Investment Program or MFIP can be described as “teaching a family how to fish, and sharing your catch at the same time.” In conjunction with the Diversionary Work Program or DWP (where parents receive employment help), MFIP gives cash assistance until the family’s finances are better. This program is aimed at children and pregnant women and usually runs for up to 60 months. 

Requirements: 

• Pass the income test
• Owns assets not more than $10,000

New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP)

The New Hampshire Employment Program is very similar to MFIP. The only big difference is that NHEP is aimed to give help to able-bodied people. As a level-up to MFIP, NHEP has programs that give GED-Equivalency Diploma, on-the-job training, and job search assistance. 

Requirements:

• Able-bodied and is between 16 to 60 years of age

Kansas Successful Families Program

The Kansan Successful Families Program is similar in benefits to both MFIP and NHEP. It is designed to help families who want to improve their financial situation while getting basic necessities at the same time. 

Requirements:

• Able-bodied and under 60 years old
• At least one child under 19

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Where To Get Help During COVID-19 Lockdown?

There are millions of families and individuals who are currently affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. The situation is now affecting the economy, businesses, and families who rely on monthly income to get their basic needs and will likely have no emergency savings. To help people in low-income families, the US government created the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES. Here are the information and programs relating to this act. 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) – FPUC is an unemployment aid that provides a weekly allowance of $600 on top of the regular Unemployment Insurance benefits.
• Pandemic Unemployment Assitance (PUA) – PUA temporarily expands Unemployment Insurance to people who are self-employed, freelancers, and independent contractors. 
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) – PUA provides benefit coverage extensions for people who already exhausted their Unemployment Insurance benefits. This extension lasts for 13 weeks. 

Free baby sample boxes are a win-win for consumers who want to test out product samples. I ended up getting every free baby box available.

I did skip the sample baby box from Babylist for now since they charge $10 for shipping fees. That’s a bit steep for baby samples that I likely already have from my Amazon/Walmart/Target boxes.

By the unboxing of these 3 boxes, I was up to my neck in a repetition of free baby samples So let’s get started – see what’s inside of all the boxes, and step by step of how I got all of them for free!

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What’s The Amazon Baby Registry? 

Amazon Baby Registry is a site feature that allows expecting parents to register items they want or need for the baby’s arrival. Parents can include major items like cribs to smaller ones like thermometers and milk bottles. They can share the list with anyone (family, friends, etc). Whoever wants to buy the items for the baby can buy it easily through the registry. Here are the other benefits you can get in opting for this product.

• 20% discount on diapers for the first year (for $500+ worth of purchases through the registry)
• 15% discount on unfulfilled items from the registry
• A free welcome baby box (“$35 value”)

Is The Amazon Baby Box Totally Free?

Creating an Amazon Registry is totally free of charge. In addition to the shopping convenience of a registry, you can also get a free $35 value* Amazon baby welcome box once you create the registry.

The box typically contains baby sample products such as bottles, diapers, wipes, and lotion. Once you or someone else purchased $10 worth of items in your registry, you can get the box for free. 

Eligibility Checklist

You can make an Amazon Baby Registry profile without being a Prime member. But if you’re still interested in the baby box content, the only option is to buy Prime for a month -OR- sign up for an Amazon Prime account trial for 30 days. Just make sure you order the box before your Prime trial ends.*

• Active Prime Account (trial Prime accounts count too)
• Amazon Baby Registry Profile
• At least $10 worth of purchase (excluding tax or shipping cost)
• Shipping address must not be within US, Alaska, and Hawaii, or with APO addresses

*NOTE: The Amazon welcome baby box runs out of stock sometimes, especially towards the end of the month. It comes in stock by mid-next month once it’s out of stock. So watch your timing if you are using the Amazon Prime Trial to get the sample box.

Step-By-Step: How To Get An Amazon Baby Registry Box

Getting a free Amazon Baby Box is easy and takes 20 minutes or so. Follow the steps below to get your free Amazon Box to save on your purchases for baby items.

1. Sign Up For Amazon Prime: If you’re not a member of Amazon Prime, get the 30-day free trial. Look for the Amazon logo on the webpage and click on “Try Prime.” After that, follow the straightforward instructions from the site.

2. Create Your Own Baby Register: Once you’re officially an Amazon Prime member, its time to create your baby registry profile. You can create your baby registry here. Common questions such as expected arrival date, address, and registry visibility are included in the FAQ. 

3. Add Items For Your Registry: Once your registry is up and running, you’re good to go. The items would be up to your preferences, but products such as bottles, baby clothing, strollers, diapers, and wipes are great choices. I added a bunch of suggested baby items to my registry just superficially – took about 5 minutes.

4. Purchase $10 Worth Of Goods*: Any category of good added to your registry that’s over $10 and sold by Amazon.com. And it doesn’t matter who pays for the expenses in the registry. Yourself, your family, or your friends can purchase anything from the checklist. As long as the official seller is “Amazon.com” and the item is preloaded on your registry.

We needed more dog treats so we simply added our dog’s treats to the baby register and checked out. That opened up our Amazon welcome baby box redemption. On the checkout page, it will say item from ____’s registry. Once you spent $10 you will be able to claim your box.

5. Claim Your Free Amazon Baby Registry Box: Amazon will unlock the “Claim Now” button once all the requirements are fulfilled. The items will automatically be added to your cart. A $35 promotional credit is used upon checkout.

“That’s Interesting!“

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1st Amazon Baby Welcome Box

2nd Amazon Baby Welcome Box

Item count: 7-10 products

Diversity: 3/5

Summary: 3/5

Ehhh, a $35 value is a stretch for both boxes. I hope no one goes out and buys a box for $35. That would be a silly waste of money. The retail value for the contents of my 2nd Amazon baby box is $15ish. The 1st box…worth less than $10.

There’s a big discrepancy between our Amazon baby boxes so your miles may vary. We ended up with 2 boxes because our parents had a Prime account and I took advantage for comparison sake. I couldn’t believe how bad my first box was.

Either way, out of all the baby boxes, my Amazon ones were lackluster especially considering you had to spend $10 on the registry and have a Prime membership to get it. But getting that 15% discount off (x2) from any baby registry items made getting the Amazon registry set up worth it.

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What Is The Walmart Baby Box? 

Walmart Registry is a program that lets soon-to-be-parents create a checklist of essential products such as diapers and wipes for their baby. This checklist is shareable and can be viewed by people with permission. Anyone who wants to give a gift to the baby can do so by buying an item to the list. If the list is worth $50 or more, Walmart gives free shipping. 

Step-By-Step: Redeeming Your Free Walmart Baby Box

Creating Your Own Walmart Baby Registry

1. To opt in for a free box, you need to create or login to your Walmart account.

2. Next, create your own baby registry using this link. Start by filling up a profile (which would ask for your information and expected date for baby’s arrival). You can manage the registry by using the Walmart app too but it’s not required. 

3. Share the link with your family and friends. Take note of your registry’s URL link, which is needed for redeeming your box below.

Redeeming Your Free Walmart Registry Box

1. Go to this Walmart link. 

2. Paste your baby registry URL in the form provided. 

3. Answer the other questions regarding your information. Submit the form once you’re done.

4. Wait for your free welcome baby box. The package usually arrives 4-6 weeks

Inside My Walmart Baby Box

There is no in-store pickup option – Walmart’s baby box is shipped to you totally free. You don’t have to jump through as many hoops to get your free baby box from Walmart as Amazon and Target makes you.

No purchase required at all, they just need just an account and an address. It’s the easiest box to get your hands on out of all 3.

I had low expectations for the Walmart baby box but the box arrived chalked full of stuff. It was definitely heavier than Amazon’s baby boxes in terms of weight. Here are the internal contents of the box:

Item count: 11-13 products

Diversity: 3.5/5

Summary: 4/5

My favorite thing from this box is the baby milestone cards. They are thick deck of index cards (sort of like makeshift belly stickers) with each month and common baby milestone printed on it. It’s a really sweet and personal touch, something I didn’t expect from Walmart.

Considering how easy it was to get this box (took 3 minutes max; no hoops to jump through; totally free) – this is a pretty good value. There were 2 full-sized items (Dr. Brown bottle and pacifier), the rest were samples. Shipping is totally free and my box arrived within 4-5 weeks.

There is 2 packets of baby (cold?) medicine, that was unexpected. It’s not something I’ve gotten in other boxes. But it might be something really handy to have it around though, so thank you Walmart for an unexpectedly solid free baby box.

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What Is Target Baby Registry?

Target offers a platform where expecting parents can list gifts that they want to receive for the baby. Family and friends can “gift” the items listed in the registry. Besides this perk, parents can get numerous other benefits:

Target Baby Registry Benefits

• 15% discount (x2) on everything listed in the registry eight weeks before the baby’s listed expected arrival. It’s 15% online, and another 15% in stores
• A platform that lets you create a checklist of essential items
• A Target free baby welcome kit*
• Easy returns & exchanges up to a year after your arrival date
• Group gifting (guests can contribute toward larger items) and gift tracking (managing thank you notes)

*You need to create a baby registry in order to be qualified for a welcome kit. This kit has free sample products, coupons, and reusable bags. Parents can create their registry either online or in Target’s physical stores.

Step-By-Step: Redeeming Your Target Welcome Baby Kit

Creating a Target Account

1. Sign in or make a Target account here. 

2. Next, create your own baby registry. Head on to this page and fill up your profile.

3. Add any random baby item to your registry. It’s pretty straightforward. You will be guided by prompts that will help you create a balanced registry.

4. Save your list and share the link to eager gifters.

For Target app users: create a list using the app. Follow the instructions from the prompt or customize your list based on your preferences.

5. You will receive an email (check your spam) after you created your registry letting you know your registry perks. Part of the registry perk is being able to get a barcode to claim your Target welcome kit inside your Target account.

Redeeming Your Target baby Box

1. The interface can be different for both desktop and mobile apps. First, you need to go to your registry and select Manage your Registries & Lists.

*NOTE on Redemption: If you are on mobile and using the mobile version of Target on your web browser then you will not see the barcode. You have to request the desktop version on your mobile browser of Target’s website in order to find the barcode. You can download the barcode image in advance just in case to skip the mobile/desktop fuss.

2. Use the Get Barcode option (save the barcode or screenshoot the code on your phone)

3. Go to a Target store, pick up your gift at Member Guest Services (usually next to the refund counter) with the barcode and claim your box. There is no free shipping. The Target baby box is pick up in-store only.

4. Here’s a link to Target General Registery FAQ if you have further questions.

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Inside My Target Baby Box

Target Baby Coupon’s Book

Item count: 13-17 products

Diversity: 4/5

Summary: 4/5

I scanned the Target coupon book above just for kicks. Of course, the coupon book changes so your discounts will vary – I just wanted to show that there is product diversity in there. There’s even a 50% off Starbucks coupon.

Everybody says the Target baby registry kit (more of a cheap synthetic tote bag) is the best among all 3 boxes. I can see why people would say that. It’s the heaviest and one that comes loaded with tons of samples from all various brands. The best perk if you shop with Target regularly is having the 15% off anything* registry coupon (for both online and in-store transactions.)

Conclusion

These boxes are all free so there’s no reason why you can’t claim all of them. If you want non-sample products (like onesies and blankets) go with Amazon. Amazon’s the only box that came with swaddles and onesies. The rest of the samples in the Amazon baby box are tamed.

If you didn’t want a repetition of samples or waste your time, the most goodie loaded box is Target’s baby welcome kit — especially if you are interested in using the $80 value* bonus coupon book included. The only downside is you have to go to a Target store and pick it up in person (which cost us money in the end because we spent money shopping while there. Their sinister plan worked!)

If you want to skip the work Amazon & Target makes you go through and simply get a free baby sample box shipped to you, Walmart’s baby box is your best bet. I love the milestone cards and how easy it was to get it. All I had to do was put in my expected due date and shipping address. The Walmart baby box just showed up on my doorstep one day, a few weeks later, easy peasy!

I guess it’s one of those rare instances that the laws of fashion don’t apply. It’s not just another cute cardigan or a pair of shorts that every brand makes. It’s a very specific period for a woman’s body. A lot of maternity brands specialize in only maternity clothing. Lastly, it’s also a relatively short period of a woman’s lifetime when you’re actually showing a bump so the quality and longevity to price scenario don’t apply.

With a baby coming, let’s budget for clothes conservatively! Because babies are expensive!

But I didn’t want to go too cheap on maternity dresses! Comfort should be #1 especially when preggo! Shopping online can be risky with sizing, especially if it doesn’t fit well while your body is growing and changing every day. I started as a size XS and by the end of my pregnancy, I was a solid M.

Navigating through this myself for the first time I’ve slowly learned these frugal maternity clothing tricks without sacrificing on clothing quality and comfort. So worry not, there’s always a way to be money savvy & frugal when it comes to anything

Do You Really Need Maternity Clothes?

Yes, yes you do. A lot of changes happen during pregnancy, especially in the mom’s physical body. This is especially notable during the last months of pregnancy, where annoyances such as backaches and swelling become more frequent and almost unbearable. You are carrying a new life, you should at least have comfort and all the love you deserve.

It is the time when being comfortable is more important than being fashionable, at least for sane mommies-to-be.

The specific need for types of maternity clothes boils down to preference. It’s reported that on average, an expecting mother spends about $500 for maternity clothes alone. And most pregnant women start to buy maternity clothes around the second trimester.

Essential types of maternity clothes you should get your hands on while pregnant:

• Maternity belt / Bellybands
• Muumuu dresses
• Loose dresses with a slit cut up the side on the legs (recommended by our doula)
• Maternity leggings over the belly
• Your husband’s old sweatshirts and hoodies
• Flowing kimonos
• Under bump (low cut) underwear
• Postpartum (high rise) underwear
• Sleeping nursing bras with no underwire
• Hand-free pumping bras

Yes, the list of absolute essentials is a bit long but fortunately, other clever moms all around the world discovered some tricks to stay comfortable and fashionable without breaking the bank. Read on to learn about different hacks and tricks to avoid buying unnecessary maternity clothes!

1. The Rubber Band Trick

Whether you like it or not, jeans and tight pants are your first wardrobe casualties. As your baby bump starts to grow, so does your waistline. Maternity jeans can range from $30 to $100. After the pregnancy, it is likely that you’ll ever wear these jeans again. The Rubber Band trick will allow you to wear your regular jeans during the first trimester. All you have to do is to tie a rubber band or a ponytail in your jean’s button. Insert one end of the rubber band through the buttonhole. Hook the rubber band back to the button, and that’s it.

2. Modify The Pockets of Your Jeans

The rubber band trick will last you at least until the 2nd trimester. As your baby bump keeps on growing, you’ll probably need to find another solution to accommodate furhter along. But don’t throw your jeans away just yet, you can still do one last hack to use it during the remaining months of your pregnancy.

To do this trick, you need to have a sewing kit, thick elastic, and a scissor. First, you need to remove the whole pocket from the jeans. Next, use the pocket cut out to measure the elastic you’ll need (about double the length of the cut out). Last but not least, sew the elastic in the pocket area of your jeans. 

3. Go for Long Maxi Dresses

Practical moms like to buy things that they can use several times to minimize expenses. The idea of maternity dress which can be used after pregnancy has been around since the 18th century using short gowns. In this modern age, the Maxi Dress is the choice to make.

Maxi Dress is basically a form-fitting tube-dress made with cotton or polyester. You can find different varieties of prints and neck designs. What makes this appealing is that you can buy it for under $20 (half the price of a maternity dress) and you can use it after your pregnancy.

This is me wearing the same exact sunflower maxi dress my mom worn when she was pregnant with me. Can you believe this cheapy, yet super comfy dress lasted 2 generations?

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4. Try Wearing Stretchy Dresses

Most moms-to-be would buy loose-fitting dresses in order to become more comfortable. Loose clothing can accommodate the baby bump without restricting movement. But let’s face it, loose clothing (shirts, dresses, etc) are very unflattering when you’re pregnant. I didn’t want to look more..like a whale. Darn nature! Loose fits cover the area underneath the baby bump and hang like a curtain.

Instead, show your baby bump to the world by using form-fitting clothes made out of stretchable fabric. No more “hanging curtain” space beneath your baby bump.

5. Invest in Leggings, Kimonos, and Tunics

Tunics, flowing kimonos, and leggings are great additions to your maternity wardrobe. These are very comfortable to wear, available in different patterns + materials and can be purchased for cheap. Use flowy and stretchy tunics and add some spice with a scarf or a necklace.

Tunics and kimonos can be bought for less than $5 each secondhand. I purchased 4 kimonos on sale secondhand from Thredup and my total came to under $30 including shipping and taxes.

You can get one for just a little over $10 on Amazon. Once your pregnancy is over, you can still wear them!

6. Borrow Some of Your Hubby’s Clothes

This could be TMI (too much information) but I’m sitting here, writing this up…in my husband’s Adidas boxer briefs. Perhaps, the easiest way to save money by avoiding maternity clothes is to borrow your partner’s clothes. Even a regular button-up shirt is big enough to replace maternity clothing. And you don’t even have to change anything. Just take a few of his wardrobe pieces (shirts, sweatshirts, underpants etc.) and poof! Comfy new PJs for the (temporarily) bloated miss mom to be!

My old underpants no longer fit comfortably after the 2nd trimester. I don’t even want to tell you how comfy his boxers are. There’s no way they would have fit me before but now his boxers and briefs are perfect. It’s almost embarrassing how comfortable they are. Bonus, the clothes I’m stealing from my husband smells like him, reminds me of him, makes me happy because I love him :D!

7. Revamp Your Undergarments

Besides raiding your husband’s underpants drawer…there’s also the growing girls. Changes in the body shape do not only happen in the baby bump. When your breasts are starting to grow because of milk production, you might find yourself in need of a bigger bra. Instead of buying a new pair, a lot of moms recommend using bra extenders instead. All you have to do is to sew the bra extender to your current bra and you’re ready to go. A set of six extenders only costs about $6 while a new bra can cost $15+ or more. Another thing is simply investing in sleeping nursing bras (the super comfy ones without an underwire.)

 Relevant Reads:

• What Is The Real Cost of Raising a Child (Done Frugally and On The Cheap)
• Got Kids? Check Out These Free Rainy Day Resources for Kids
• 11 Punchable Financial Crimes According to Me
• When Having Too Much Money is Bad (The Cons of Being Rich)
• How To Make a Roll of Paper Towels Last Embarrassingly Long

8. Make a DIY Ruched T-Shirt 

Not a fan of loose maxi dresses or form-fitting stretchable clothing? You can still wear your regular shirts or tank tops, but a bit of a hack and craftiness is needed. Ruching is a technique that makes oversized shirts and dresses fit more by folding the extra fabric into a fashionable ripple design.

To perform this hack, you need an oversized tank top or shirt, a sewing machine (or a sewing kit), scissors, and elastic. Pin the elastic on the side seam of the shirt and stretch it to the bottom. Let the sewing machine do the work by ruching the elastic all the way. And done, your regular oversized shirt is now a DIY maternity dress.

9. DIY Your Own Belly Band

Belly Bands is an amazingggg tool to have during pregnancy. I wish I got it sooner! I was skeptical at first when I purchased my Jill & Joey belly band I thought I would end up returning it – but this little strip of stretchy, velcro fabric lets you feel comfortable and supported at the same time.

Maternity belly bands can be bought on Amazon for $15-$50 dollars depending on how fancy you want to get. Can you dupe it for cheaper? Oh for sure! It’s simply a piece of support fabric positioned to help you leverage a jumbo belly. Not rocket science but makes a big difference!

With creativity and a piece of an old small shirt, you can have your own band for free. Pick a shirt that you don’t wear anymore. It’s better if you can get a shirt with a dark or gray color. Cut the shirt from armpits to armpits to make it a tube. Finally, sew elastic on the top side and stretchy lace on the hem. You can now use the DIY band to feel supported. Your back will probably thank you too!

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• Frugality Is a Lifestyle That You Might Be Doing Wrong
• Facebook Bragging Can Be Annoying – And Ruin Your Finances Too
• Download Our Free Google Budget Sheet ?

How To Find Great Deals In Maternity Clothes

1. Borrow or Buy Secondhand 

If DIYs and other dress is not for you, or only peculiar maternity clothes make you feel comfortable, the best way to get your hands on these items for free is to borrow. Chances are if you have a friend that has second-hand maternity clothes, she’ll likely sell it to you for a “friendly” price or even for free.

2. Rent Designer

If you want amazing quality for cheap, renting designer maternity clothing could be for you. But what if you’re the first one to have a baby among your group of friends? You can still find some secondhand maternity clothes in thrift stores. But if there are no secondhand shops in your area, the best option is going to rental stores online like MineForNine. You can borrow an item that costs $125 for $45 for a month.

3. Thrift and Shop Online

When I need clothes, I go to Goodwill or Thredup (my favorite online thrift store). They have limited maternity inventory but the prices are fantastic. Maternity consignment shops can also be found all around the country. If you want to try on physical goods before buying it, taking a look at consignment shops is worth considering.

Online sites such as Amazon, Target, and other big-name retailers usually have a huge selection of maternity clothes. You can find great deals and even clearances occasionally. Buying on these Big Box stores on the spot can cost more money but you can cut expenses by getting the Amazon Baby Registry & Target Baby Registery Bonuses for 15% off everything. Complete the steps to these baby registries and unlock freebies + discounts across the board. Make the preparations, stock up your shopping list, and check out with the 15% discount.

4. Social Media (Facebook Marketplace)

Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are both go-to places for me. There are lots of moms on Facebook selling sell their pre-loved items for a fraction of the retail costs. I love these websites for bulk baby/toddlers clothes, cloth diapers, and secondhand furniture.

In the states, community colleges accept every living breathing human body that wants to prolong their education – all for a low and affordable price. But junior colleges don’t have the best reputation among high schoolers.

There was an air of judgment, at least at my school. I’m pretty sure it’s like that at almost all schools. Your school of choice/university is the cumulation of the work from all those years of awkward teen hell. People think going to community college first is basically saying, “Hi, I flunked high school, and I didn’t wanna go the army route soooo.”

But I really wish someone wrote this for me when I was a high school senior. I could have chosen to go to community college, I knew it was going to be cheaper, but I just couldn’t pride-wise. Now that I’m an actual adult – I question my own judgment and ignorance. I would have walked away $20,000+ richer.

 Related Reads:

• 3 Signs When Being Frugal Doesn’t Work & What To Do About It
• Why Rich People Penny Pinch When They Don’t Have To?
• At What Age Does Being Broke Stop Being Cute?

1. Community College Saves Money

Its a norm in the US to get into student debt in order to afford higher education. Acquiring any debt before you have the chance and skills to work in a professional environment can damage future plans, including marriage and career paths.

According to the Federal Reserve, in 2017 alone, the typical student debt that someone accumulates after four years of staying in a college is between $20,000 to $25,000, with monthly payments taking between $200 to $300 monthly.

Meanwhile, the average Community College Debt for graduating students takes about $13,719 (source). According to Collegeboard, the average yearly tuition for a public two-year college is only $3,440!

Students can also apply for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), making the cost of studying even lower. Basically, in a typical university, students often pay $400 to $600 per credit hour, which means $1,200 to $1,800 per class. In community college, credit per hour charges between $45 to $250, which could mean $375 to $1,425 per class.

Attending a community college will also benefit your living cost. You could rent, getting a car, and worrying about your food or washing expenses living with parents. Living at home might be boring, but it is also a great way to save money.

2. Good for Credit Scores

Building a good credit score is one of the sneakiest yet most critical part of administering finances. According to FinAid, payment history weighs 35% of your score. This indicates how late or early you are in meeting your payments. Ideally, the earlier you pay your debts, the better. The lesser the amount of debt you need to pay, the easier it is for you to meet your payments, which would mean a better credit score.

 Related Reads:

• 7 Reasons You Shouldn’t Feel Embarrassed To Attend Community College
• How I Paid Off $20,000 In Student Loans Working Part-Time
• 15 Money Things Young Adults Overlook That Matter

3. Higher Future Cash Flow

According to Pew Research, young college graduates usually have second jobs and are struggling financially, basically because a huge chunk of their income goes to student debt repayment. In addition, a study by Holger Sieg and Yu Wang revealed that having student debt can negatively affect marriage, career, investment, and educational prospects down the road.

With less or no student debt at all, expect more cash flow and funds available. More cash flow means ticking the positive net worth box sooner. This includes money goals for yourself to further take your life to the next level with assets like stocks, bonds, and real estate properties.

4. More Flexibility with Work and Study

What makes community colleges attractive to some students is the fact that they can have more opportunities to work. According to the Community College Research Center, about 80% of the community college students are working while 39% are working full-time jobs. Night and weekend classes are available in community college, it’s a lot more flexible.

Working while studying helps in the future attitude of recent college kids. The kids from my university that didn’t work/didn’t have to work…guess what – they partied and slept in a lot.

Being exposed to a workplace early on develops communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. According to the ManpowerGroup survey cited by Harvard Business Review, 50% of organizations consider early skills mentioned above to be the most valued workplace skills.

 Related Reads:

• 7 Reasons You Shouldn’t Feel Embarrassed To Attend Community College
• How I Paid Off $20,000 In Student Loans Working Part-Time
• 15 Money Things Young Adults Overlook That Matter

5. Community College Is Still a College

According to the Harvard Business Review, two-thirds of college graduates struggle to start their careers. However, those who are from community colleges who earned an associate’s degree earn more than $8,000 more compared to those who have just a high school degree. If a 4-year university isn’t in the cards yet, definitely still go to community college.

Having more time to work means more time to find internships in the field that you want to be transferred to when you’re ready to go onto a 4-year university. According to SUNY, internships usually increases the marketability of a professional, as well as benefits networking. 

6. Easier Admission Transfer to a 4-Year College

Although community colleges have a bad reputation by accepting students with low grades, this doesn’t mean that the quality of these schools is low. In fact, what community colleges offer is a chance to redeem your academic path by making it easier to transfer to a university.

Related:

• Why I Don’t Think Cheating on Homework Is Wrong

By getting an associate degree, you can transfer your earned credits to a 4-year university in order to finish your bachelor’s degree. This process gives second chances to young adults who want to attend universities later. It’s a fresh start for young adults who all deserve second chances.

7. More Time to Find Yourself

This is about 85% of the reason why I wish I attended community college first. Money made up the rest of the 15%. It’s weird they let know-nothing 18-year-olds to decide on their major (and what they want to do for the rest of their life). Especially because most 18-year-olds have rarely lived in the real world or know enough about themselves to decide on a truly fitting lifelong career path. I didn’t know myself until I was over 26 years old.

 Related Reads:

• 4 Profound Things I Wish I Knew Before Growing Up
• Effective But Semi Illegal Ways To Pay Off Student Loans
• Top 5 Financial Mistakes I’ve Made In My Early 20s

If you’re one of the students who have a hard time choosing what to take for college, taking up general courses would be a better choice. Going to a community college will let you earn credits while you’re still trying to sort your career path.

9 Famous Community College Graduates

There are some people who will give tell you community college is a waste of time. I took courses at community college when I was in high school, there are yes, a few people who have been there for years only half trying in class. But plenty of other students are late simply bloomers, on a budget, or just buried talents. Here are some very successful people (and I’m sure there’s more I haven’t looked into) that attended community college.

1. Steve Jobs – De Anza College

Before being known as the founder of Apple Computers, Steve Jobs attended De Anza College. He first enrolled at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, only to drop out six months later. Jobs attended De Anza College of two semesters. He would eventually launch the first ever Macintosh in 1984 the Flint Center in De Anza College, saying “Now I’d like to show you Macintosh in person.”

2. George Lucas – Modesto Junior College

George Lucas is known as the creator of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, two popular franchises all around the world. He attended Modesto Junior College and studied anthropology, sociology, and literature. During this time, his love at films started when he began using an 8 mm camera for filming car races.

3. Arnold Schwarzenegger – Santa Monica College

Arnold Schwarzenegger is known for his films and involvement in politics (The Governatorrr). He started taking English classes at Santa Monica College in 1977, where he earned a degree by correspondence later on from the University of Wisconsin-Superior

4. Morgan Freeman – Los Angeles City College

As an award-winning actor and film director, Morgan Freeman is a legend in Hollywood. He is known for movies like as “Million Dollar Baby”, “Driving Miss Daisy”, “Now You See Me”, and “Deep Impact.” Freeman was a former soldier when he moved to Los Angeles and attended the Los Angeles City College, where he also worked as a transcript clerk.

5. Tom Hanks – Chabot Community College

Thomas Jeffrey Hanks is known for his excellent acting in both dramatic and comedic roles. He is currently the 4th highest-grossing actor in North America. As a part of his acting training, he went to Chabot Community College and studied theater before transferring to California State University.

6. James Dean – Santa Monica College

James Dean is one of the most popular actors in his generation, as well as in the whole history of Hollywood. Although he only has a handful of movies before dying in an accident, he made sure that he will be known for his excellent acting. Surprisingly, he considered a career in law as he was enrolled in Santa Monica College and took pre-law. Dean managed to get transferred to UCLA, changing his major to drama.

7. Jim Lehrer – Victoria College

Jim Lehrer is known for being the former Executive Editor and a former news anchor for the PBS News Hour. Starting his career from being a political columnist, he became one of the most recognizable TV journalists. But before graduating from Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, he got an Associates degree from Victoria College.

8. Eileen Collins – Corning Community College

Getting in the space is not an easy task, being the commander of a space shuttle is even harder. Eileen Collins proved that everything is achievable when she became the first female pilot, as well as the first female commander of a space shuttle. Collins went to Corning Community College and received an associate’s degree in Mathematics and Science before earning more degrees from traditional universities.

9. Halle Berry – Cuyahoga Community College

Award-winning actress Halle Berry is known for her role as Leticia Musgrove in the 2001 romantic drama movie “Monster’s Ball.” She was also a model and joined a handful of beauty contests, one of which was Miss Wolrd 1986 where she got the sixth place. But before that, Berry studied at Cuyahoga Community College and studied Journalism.

Saving your own money for college does a lot more than just paying the tuition. Spending your own money teaches you about the value of money, provides a safety net, and gives you a preview of the working world. I’ll tell you my experience of going to college as a low-income student and how I navigated my way through. You might think this story starts at age 18 but my college prep started long before 18, and I didn’t even know it.

I held two multimedia based internships from the time I was 16 to until I went off to college:

*During my first internship, my class was paid to learn how to make our own video game in Maya 3D. I designed a 3D island and animated my own space station on giant Mac OS X Leopards. I also came up with the phrase ‘pinwheel of death‘ long before it became popular. It was an amazing opportunity. We were allowed to enter the UbiSoft office in San Francisco and poke around after school. We were given free video games! I was very paid well for that 8-week internship.

*My second internship was at an independent advertising design studio. Our medium was Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. A year later, when I was offically in college, my late mentor told me that my (and other students) design was being hung in the streets of New York City for the Urban Forestry project. The project was successful funded and I was paid $600 for completion.

 Recommended Reads:

• Why ‘The Millionaire Next Door’ is a Myth to Most Millennials
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The College Years

As an 18-year-old college freshman, I had around $5,000 in my saving account that was 100% my own money and no one had a clue I had any.

Even more importantly, that money in my bank account gave me the seed money that I needed for school books and dorm room furniture -without- having to touch the credit card my mom opened for me.

It would have been really hard to ask my parents for money. At the time (around 2009), my mom was let go from her nursing care agency due to a workplace injury she sustained at a client’s house. Money for everybody was only getting tighter during the Great Recession.

Thanks to the $5,000 in seed money, I never had to touch that credit card very much. Because a lot of transactions were never as easy as swiping a card. I saw the money leave my checking account almost immediately; it did not take long for me to realize I hated the feeling of my cash leaving. I was naturally frugal during school, I never felt tempted by cars, and I did not have to pester my parents for money.

By junior year, I was able to score another temp media gig in the university computer lab. That stint replenished my diminished savings which were down to a little over $3,000 back up to $5,000 and beyond. I sustained that amount until the end of my university career.

 Related Reads:

• 4 Profound Things I Wish I Knew Before Growing Up
• Effective But Semi Illegal Ways To Pay Off Student Loans
• Top 5 Financial Mistakes I’ve Made In My Early 20s

The Adult Years

I met my school credit requirements and chose to graduate early in 2012 in an effort to curb my college costs. The end was in sight. I decided to skip the formalities of graduating with my peers. I gave myself a head start job hunting before every new graduate hit the job market.

Related: How I Paid Off $20,000 In Student Loans Working Part-Time

When my first loan repayment arrived, I was able to create a soft landing with that $5,000 in between my first real-world paycheck and my first student loan payment. 

It’s hard to imagine how ugly things could have turned out if I was not so fortunate to have learned the value of money early on.

*Did you know that the average household with revolving credit card debt pays $904 in interest only per year?¹

*Dropout rates of 16 to 24-years-olds who come from low income families are seven times more likely to drop out than those from higher incomes families.²

*50% of students who drop out of college have income under $35,000/yr.³

Being in control of finances, making and saving your own money should start long before students enter college. Unfortunately, this is lesser known advice compare to the general pressures of going to college felt by teenagers everywhere. Good college education serves an enormous purpose in educating the young but I do wish financial education was taught beforehand.

I was told over and over that without a college education, I would have no future. But I was never told that without a financial education, I would never know the beauty of a sound night sleep or the comfort of monetary stability without a life of servitude to creditors.

~ 

This post was written for this year’s CFSI: #FinHealthMatters as an effort to curate student financial awareness.

Raising children is one of the biggest cornerstones of building a family. Although expensive and difficult, having children means the world to some couples looking to have a family.

But raising a cute bundle of joy is not an easy task. Raising kids is expensive. In fact, there is an on-going decline of birthrates in the United States (for the first time in our history!) and also worldwide. We are currently below the human replacement rate of 2.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, the average middle-income family ($59,200 – $107,400) with two children may expect to spend approximately $233,610 per child until they reach the age of 18 – NOT accounting expenses before birth such as hospital bills and birthing doulas.

After reading this number, I got sticker shock.

I mean, a quarter of a million dollars?! PER child? What if you’re a super frugal person and won’t need conveniences like private childcare or Disney vacations? Our children may forever wear hand-me-downs and eat non-organic…would they still cost a quarter of a million dollars then?

What’s if we raised children as cost-effectively as possible?

Oh boy, did I get sticker shock when I saw how much it would cost to raise a child? A quarter of a million! That price just goes up as you move on up the social-economic ladder.

As they say, kids will cost what you want to and can afford.

For the average middle-class to upper-middle family, the costs of raising a child to topple over an estimated $250,000 going from birth to 17.¹ That’s not including higher education!

You’re lucky to be out $15,000 per year for 17 years!

But given that there are about 7 billion people in the world and 300 million of those people are in the United States alone, I don’t think sticker shock has stopped or prevented anyone from having mini human beings.

How can a family afford kids given the family median income in the U.S. is just $60,000 – $80,000 a year?

Neither hubby nor I grew up with anything fancy. We both went to public school. My school lunches were reduced lunches. I paid 25 cents for cafeteria food of one mystery meat taco pocket, milk, apple, and green beans. (And I have never known any kid who ate the cafeteria green bean…)

If it costs $15,000 to raise a kid and the median household wage in the United States is $52,250² then that means 30% of expenditures are going towards the little one alone!

Plus, that’s post-tax! So 20% to taxes, 30% to housing, 30% to the kid and the remaining 20% needs to include everything else from transportation to food. That math is impossible!

What’s the REAL estimate if we raised a kid as frugally as possible?

In this article, I broke down the large numbers reported since I figured the $250,000 needed to raise a child were elevated, it’s clickbait material, right?

Upon closer inspection, these figures include opportunity cost, which is why it seems so high.

I give my best estimates for raising a child one notch above bare bone circumstances:

Housing ($10,000/year)

The biggest portion of a middle-income family is being allocated to housing expenses, according to the US Department of Agriculture. This is the most expensive among the expenses in rearing a child and eats up to 29% of the total cost to raise a child.

Housing in urban places is 27% more expensive than their rural counterparts. Low-income families usually spend $3,160 on average while a middle-income family spends $3,680 for housing expense per month.

Surprisingly, the bigger your family is, the bigger your savings will be when it comes to housing expenses. When it comes to housing expenses, the fewer the children, the more expensive it would be.

The cost of housing usually doesn’t change from the moment the child was born until the child is 17. A room is a room. If you are looking to start a family, look to reduce housing expenses by moving to a lower-cost city with cheaper housing in a fair school district.

For our family, we put down a very inaccurate $0. I’m planning to have our kid sleep in the same bed as us until he/she goes off to college. It can’t get any more cost-effective than that ? (I’m kidding!!!)

But for a frugal family who doesn’t need a huge home in the center of town (aka less expensive housing), we can get away with $10,000 per year (per child). That’s based on our local apartment rent here. It’s about $800 for 1 bedroom. $1000 for 2 bedrooms. $1,200 for a 3 bedroom apartment.

Food ($1,460/year)

Food is the second most expensive expense when raising a child, but this is also the part where a family has more options to save. According to the same data from USDA, 18% of the total cost to raise a child goes towards food. In addition, as the child grows, so is food consumption.

According to the result of the study, the most expensive child to eat is a teenager. Food consumption for low-income family ranges from $1,310 to $2,300 based on age. Middle-income families spends $1,580 to $2,790.

There are a lot of ways to save money and time in preparing food for the family. Frugal recipes that are available for as low as $2 per serving will help you save money.

Cooking in large batches would save you time and resources by freezing and reheating. You can also try preparing a meal plan for a week for easier food preparation. You would get about $4 a day for children’s food budget which is just about how much the current food stamp recipients receives.

Following a frugal $4 per day guideline, per child annually, food will then cost about $1,460.

Health Care ($900/year)

Health care coverage accounts for 9% of the total cost of raising a child. A low-income family usually spend $820 to $910 per year depending on the child’s age. Middle-income families spend from $1,180 to $1,300, again, depending on the child’s age. It is worth it to note that as a child ages, the coverage needed for health care also changes.

This number was a relatively realistic one if you and your family have an employer health plan. It currently costs each of us $900 a year to be insured so I simply multiplied $900 x 17 years.

Health care is a cost that needs to be planned ahead of time. One of the best ways to save is to get health care sharing or insurance coverage where the cost of other’s health care is shared.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) basically an emergency fund for medical expenses,  is also a good option, paired with healthy choices in food and lifestyle.

I could have cut health insurance to $0 but I thought…raising a kid frugally, not destitute and without medical attention. Technically you can get away with a figure much lower than $900 a year. My family went without health insurance for the majority of my life. Thankfully I was a healthy and robust child. No leg sprains, no appendicitis, didn’t participate in sports etc.

Toys & Fun ($1+/year)

I almost put $0. I’ve seen kids live on rocks and basic TV as entertainment so it’ll be OK. Spongebob isn’t everything.

My parents never brought me anything (they did in China but not in America) and we never celebrated holidays or birthdays. I was happy to have 3 working TV channels from the television we found on the street. It was an utmost boring childhood but doable and I turned out (semi) normal.

I would give an extra few hundred in the estimates for a used laptop or something but any school-related expenses like field trips and laptops are split between childcare and misc, not in “toys & fun.”

Furniture ($300/year)

My parents found all of our furniture on the street. They never purchased anything furniture related, not even a stool, because they would wait on their luck or go without. If they needed anything, they ask the neighbors or just look around on the street after dark. They found some pretty great stuff too. Mattresses are super expensive for what it is: a block of foam and springs. 

We found all of our mattresses on the street and used it for 10+ years! I’m not even sure what’s the total age of the mattresses we found but they were lumpy when we got them. I woke up every morning from age 13 to 17 with back and neck pain but it was doable and it saved us money.

Car seats and cribs are likely sunk cost items. Regulatory safety change and improvements regarding baby furniture happen all the time so buying old cribs and car seats may not be the best idea. These items are sunk costs. Other than that, for side tables and lamps, head to your local thrift store

Clothing ($100/year)

Clothing takes up 6% of a family’s annual budget and would be lesser if the family have more kids. The reduction of cost in a big family is because of younger children “inheriting” old stuff from their older siblings. A low-income family spends $670 to $720 per child annually while a middle-income family spends $750 to $830.

To an extent, the savings can go way down. I put down $5,500 for 17 years which is still is an exaggeration. If you don’t care about the latest fashions, there are pieces of clothing going for $1-$10 at the thrift store which can be passed down.

To save on clothing expenses, parents can shop on least known brands. In addition, talk to your children early on about how getting caught up in known brands are not really practical and should not be a base on identity. Shop only if necessary, or if clothes are on sales with really good deals.

My annual expense for clothing as a teenager was probably $200 per year.

I heard cloth diapers and hand-me-downs from family are cost-effective. If done frugally, we will likely inherit toys and clothing from friends and family who has already stepped into parenthood.

Education ($30-$900/year)

Does your family qualify for free or reduce lunch? That would be the biggest factor here besides the occasional notebook, laptop, and pencils. My mother told me the greatest thing about the western world was free education. While a public school will certainly allow you to save more money if you have more child. Education is also a factor when a couple chooses their neighborhood. The best way to save is to choose an up and coming neighborhood in districts with higher-quality schools.

I put down a mere $30 because we qualified for free/reduced lunch and got free school supplies through programs that gave poor children aid. I rode the school bus instead of being driven to school. We were so poor, all expenses were totally covered.

Child Care ($500+/year)

I was left alone after we immigrated to the U.S. so I didn’t give childcare much of a budget. It is illegal in the United States to leave a child alone but…haha…my immigrant parents did not follow that! I sat quietly and read a ton of good books while waiting for my parents to come home.

Childcare, for those who want to do it the legal way, is the 3rd most expensive item in the annual budget. This item takes up 16% of the total cost to raise a child. This is also the only item that decreases over time as the need for childcare decreases per year.

First 5 years of raising a child are the most expensive, as it covers the fee for daycares, nannies, and other. Low-income and middle-income families spend $2,080 and $2,870 in the first five years respectively on childcare. Higher-income families spend more whereas low-income family saves money by staying at home (since their income doesn’t make up for expensive daycare costs.) There are government subsidies available but I would say until K-8 funding of education kicks in, to be frugal, you just can’t spend any money on children besides the occasional babysitter for a night or two.

Transportation ($1,000/year)

Depending on the location, there should be locally subsidized buses. Children under the age of 5 rides for free. Not everyone lives in a region with a robust transportation system so I gave children related transportation a healthy $1,000 a year budget. Plus, I was a poor kid. I didn’t have anywhere to go besides home.

Transportation takes 15% of the total cost to raise a child, getting up to $1,200-$1,690 for lower-income families and $1,790 to $2,270 in the middle-income families. Just like other expenses, this one will grow as child ages. This accounts to commute expense in families with no automobile while fueling and car maintenance for families with the automobile.

When a child turns 17, he or she started traveling more, which makes the cost even more expensive, with or without automotive. The additional car insurance is also one of the reasons why this expense grows as child ages.

See a real-life example of expensive it is to give a teenager a car! To save money in transportation, free alternative to traveling like using bicycles is encouraged, especially in bicycle-friendly distances.

Vacations ($0/year)

A very rough $0. I mean vacations are not necessary, especially when things are tight sadly.

Miscellaneous Costs

This expense, which is labeled as “miscellaneous expenses” takes up 7% of the total cost to raise a child. USDA described this as expenses toward “recreation, entertainment, and other costs. Personal care products, entertainment, or sports equipment belongs to this category.

I mentioned before we don’t have children (yet) so this category will fit whatever I haven’t even fathomed yet. Breast pumps? (What are those?) Tampons for girls? A suit to prom for boys?

(For a more accurate analysis with someone who has experience raising their children, read my friend Joe’s analysis.)

During a child’s childhood to teenage period, he or she will develop hobbies, use entertainment, and other costs. Low-income families spend $450 to $740 per child annually, depending on age. Middle-income families usually spend $830 to $1,110. The age bracket of 9-11 is where families spend the most, with the expense declining after reaching the 12-14 and 15-17 age bracket, where most teenagers seek for jobs.

How Much It Cost My Immigrant Parents To Raise Me

Poor children from poor families make due, and my parents demonstrated that. You spend what you can afford on kids.

My parents probably spent a grand total of $30,000-$40,000 raising me since they managed it pretty bare-boned obtaining second-hand/free furniture, free school lunches, buses and very low to no medical coverage. I was a very healthy child with no allergies, learning disabilities or physical care needs. I was not involved in activities and in addition, I was a latchkey child (about 5 hours every day and 11 hours on weekends.)

It makes me question if creation is worth it in a family that is constantly worried about balancing the budget line. It seems like an unnecessary pain to the children who were dropped into that situation where they have to live on the razor’s edge too. I was sort of miserable while writing parts of this post thinking back to my kid years but life is more than just money.

Generally, though, I believe I turned out just fine although I admit it was not a pleasant childhood. However, it’s doable. Children don’t have to cost parents $250,000 to become good, functioning adults. It can be done on a tight budget.

~

Sources:

https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2017/01/13/cost-raising-child [For short version]https://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/crc2015_March2017.pdf [PDF | For the complete source with data]