There is nothing more beautiful – or more expensive – than raising a child.

From pregnancy to the moment they leave home, our children cost us money. We know this, we understand this, and yet the sheer cost of parenting is something we really get shocked by – even when we think we know about it. The thing is, when you choose to expand your family, money should be the least of your concerns. You’re supposed to be enjoying a beautiful pregnancy, not panicking about how you’re going to afford diapers and clothes.

The good news is that it is absolutely possible to raise a baby on a budget. Some people don’t intend to get pregnant, and so don’t plan for it financially. Miracles happen every day, though, so in the interest of stopping money worries from dominating your pregnancy, you need to think about how you can raise your child on a budget – and here are some of the best tips for that.

Tip #1: Don’t buy into the hype of buying.

You are going to be shown at every angle what you MUST have for your baby, but those things are mostly gimmicks. Do you need a baby wipe warmer? No! All you need is somewhere safe for your baby to sleep, something to wear and something to eat. You don’t need cot bumpers and pillows. You don’t need an expensive crib that rocks automatically. You just need to buy the basics – the baby isn’t going to care how basic!

Tip #2: Get onto a breastfeeding course and get to know local lactation specialists.

The best thing about being a woman is that you can feed your baby for free. They get the best milk directly from the source, and you don’t have to spend any money on it, either. It doesn’t come naturally to every mother, so get on a breastfeeding course to learn how to latch your baby.

Tip #3: Go secondhand.

Most baby clothes are sold in excellent condition because babies grow much faster than people anticipate. Don’t discount second hand clothing; you can always run it through a wash if you’re concerned about the source.

Tip #4: Buy items that are convertible.

Cribs that transform into toddler beds. Highchairs that migrate over to the table when they’re tall enough. Doing this can save money because they grow with the baby and mean that you don’t have to replace things as they get older.

Tip #5: Accept all the free items that you can get.

Some hospitals hand out samples and coupons to new parents, so take them all. You can bin the ones you don’t want – or donate them – and your hospital may hand you a bag of newborn basics to take home with you. Don’t turn these things away.

Living frugally with a baby is absolutely possible, you just have to look into every avenue to ensure that you are taking all the opportunities to save money that you can. Babies aren’t as expensive as teenagers – so be as sparing with your cash as you can until you get to that point.