A Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide to Minimalism and Saving Money for Life with a Baby
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In this post we go over tips from a Stay-at-Home Mom on implementing Minimalism and money saving tips into life with a baby!
You’ll find great items for your Baby Registry in this post! Be sure to add them!
Hey Mama! Being a new mom comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to managing a household on a budget. Embracing minimalism can be a game-changer, helping you save money, reduce stress, and make the most out of your resources. In this guide, I’ll tell you how adopting a minimalist money saving mindset like I have can simplify your life, especially with a baby, and I’ll provide practical tips on saving money through smart shopping, efficient self-care routines, and avoiding unnecessary expenses. Adapting my life in these ways help me the opportunity to stay at home with my babies, without feeling a huge impact on our wallets, and I am so grateful.
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Embracing Minimalism with a Baby
Minimalism isn’t just about decluttering; it’s about making intentional choices that simplify your life. For stay-at-home moms, this means creating a functional and calming environment for both you and your baby. Here are some meaningful tips on how to start:
Declutter Baby Essentials
Focus on high-quality, multi-purpose baby items. Avoid accumulating unnecessary gadgets and toys. We accepted a lot of hand me downs, which were a Godsend, but we actually had arguably too much! While we barely had to buy any clothes or toys for the baby, we did have to focus on getting sustainable products in other areas. For example, we opted for glass bottles on our baby registry which are reusable for the next baby. We kept this mentality in mind when purchasing or adding other items to our registry. Good thing we did, too as we are blessed members of the 2 under 2 club!
There is actually good reason to minimize toys beyond decluttering, you can read more about it here: An abundance of toys can curb kids’ creativity and focus | Science News
I have managed to minimize toys, and the overflow by having a simple rotation system for my child’s toys. We simply put ⅓ of the toys away in a storage tote at all times and every week or two we can rotate what is in storage with toys we notice he isn’t currently playing with. The bonus to this is that by the time the next rotation comes around, those stored toys seem brand new and he has learned new skills to incorporate while playing with them! Once we notice he outgrows a certain toy it is time to pack it up in the attic for next baby, or donate instead of re-entering the rotation. I’ve also put an emphasis on asking for things like books or experiences to be gifted to my child instead of toys.
Simplify Your Wardrobe
Opt for a capsule wardrobe that fits your daily needs and is easy to mix and match. Choosing quality go-to pieces that last makes life so much simpler, and has the added bonuses of reduced waste and consumerism! I did an overhaul of half of my wardrobe before the baby got here, simply because I didn’t have the room. I sold them or donated them and now I focus on only buying simple quality pieces when I shop, that I know will last me a long time. When I buy something new, I donate something to make room! Check out my pregnancy/postpartum capsule wardrobe here!
2. Saving Money on Baby Products
You don’t need to spend a fortune on baby gear. Look for budget-friendly, high-quality products that simplify your daily routine. Here are some essential products:
Multi-Use Baby Gear:
Convertible Crib: Invest in a crib that can transition into a toddler bed to save money in the long run.
I opted for natural finished wood for the second baby after finding my son chewing off the paint of his crib. While the paint is considered non-toxic for cribs, I'd prefer he didn’t ingest any!
Convertible High Chair: Items like a convertible highchair that also functions as a booster seat and toddler chair.
Cloth Diapers: These can be more economical than disposable diapers, especially if used with a good laundering system. They can also be used on multiple children! Check out my tips on Cloth diapering here: Cloth Diapering VS. Disposables: A comprehensive comparison guide for new parents New to the world of diapering — XO Marilyn Elizabeth
You don’t have to sacrifice style while trying to save money. Itzy Ritzy has high quality products that can be reused with every baby, and you can get 10% off your first order right now and free shipping on orders over $49.
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3. Saving Money on Fitness and Self-Care routines
With a busy schedule and a new baby, beauty appointments and gym memberships might seem like an unnecessary expense. Consider these alternatives:
At-Home Workouts:
Utilizing fitness apps and online resources to stay active at home is an easy way to get great fitness coaching, for a fraction of the cost of a gym
- BetterMe Fitness App offers personalized workout plans and fitness guidance right from your phone. I loved to use BetterMe for my prenatal exercise and postpartum I was able to get my body back using their Wall Pilates program.
Check out more about my postpartum health and nutrition journey here: How I Prioritized and Maintained Health and Fitness Postpartum — XO Marilyn Elizabeth
Home Fitness Equipment: Invest in a few pieces of affordable equipment that can be used at home.
Investing in your home gym routine can be a significant cost reduction compared to an annual gym membership, and you’ll be able to use these items for longer! Not to mention the time and gas money saved by just working out at home.
Budget Friendly Self-Care
Maintaining self-care is crucial, especially for new moms. You can still indulge in self-care without breaking the bank. I am the ultimate minimalist when it comes to my beauty routine, simply because I like the more natural look, but with that comes a heavy focus on my self-care routines! I try to prioritize my self-care at least one day a week and keep a simple but consistent skincare routine. Investing in myself at home I am able to avoid high-cost beauty treatments.
For a little at home spa-like self-care I love a good Epsom salt soak and face mask.
Face Masks: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay mixed with apple cider vinegar for a deep cleanse.
Bath Soaks: Epsom salts and essential oils for a soothing bath experience. Sometimes it’s nice to just have a nice foot soak while you read or binge your favorite show!
Affordable Skincare: Look for budget-friendly skincare products that offer great results. These are my favorite daily skincare basics for great skin! These products also last a long time, so I’m not having to buy new ones every month.
I started double cleansing, and let me tell you it changes the game! Starting your skincare routine with a deep cleansing oil to wash away makeup, SPF, and impurities.
Follow up the cleansing oil with this great gentle hydrating cleanser.
This is by far the greatest moisturizer for sensitive skin!
-Castor oil (this is also great for hair!!)
Add just a drop or two of this to your moisturizer and watch how much longer your moisturizer lasts!
Skip the cost on botox and use Frownies! These wrinkle patches are amazing, and a safer, cheaper alternative to botox.
Mindfulness and Relaxation: Incorporate mindfulness practices like meditation or yoga.
BetterMe has you covered here too, with yoga coaching and meditation challenges! Check them out below!
Check out more tips in my post on self care here:How to Prioritize Mom Self-Care-during the newborn phase — XO Marilyn Elizabeth
Minimalist & Money saving mindset Book Recs!
- *“The Minimalist Home” by Joshua Becker* – A practical guide to decluttering your home.
- *“The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey* – Tips for managing finances and saving money. I think this is a great intro into home finances that makes saving money easy to understand and implement to get your finances on track. I started with this book nearly a decade ago on my money saving journey, and learned valuable money mindset tips.
- *“The Minimalist Mom” by Rachel Jonat* - Practical advice on minimalism for mothers.
- *“You Need a Budget” by Jesse Mecham* - Tips for effective budgeting.
Adopting a minimalist lifestyle and finding ways to save money can significantly ease the pressures of being a stay-at-home mom. By focusing on essential baby products, exploring budget-friendly self-care options, and making the most of home-based fitness routines, you can create a simpler, more manageable daily life. Remember, minimalism is about quality over quantity, and making thoughtful choices will help you and your baby thrive.
