I remember standing there looking down at my baby, calculating if I had enough money for diapers and bus fare and formula. How I raised my baby on a tight budget, was really hard as a young mother with a newborn.
At the time, I was living in a Boarding room with my baby. The reason why I was there and not at home, was because it was unsafe for us. I was told then and there that I had to go live on my own. No money and no where to go I panicked. Till the Welfare told me they would help me with all of that.
They found the Boarding room for me and gave me money for the month. Having only the money I was given, and it had to last for that month. I did know how to budget a bit, because I did this for my mom alot when I was growing up.
Oh I did forget to say, I did get a $100 food voucher for one store. To help me out with the basics I needed. Cause I had no toothbrush or anything, just what I left the hospital with.
My Challenge I faced:
- how much did food and diapers cost-I had to price them out at a store
- what food did I need, that could be kept in my room
- how many diapers did my baby need for that month. ( I only had 12 cloth diapers)
- how much was a bus pass for one month
From My Experience
So I got a book to keep track of all things I was buying. Things I was doing each day and reflect on how I could do better. I even wrote down when me and my baby didn’t sleep well and why. Cause it meant we did not have a good day the next day.
I wrote a list out of things I needed/wanted, and an actual list of what I could get. I knew what I wanted was not as important as what I actually needed. What my baby and I needed is how I raised my baby on a tight budget. It was very hard to begin with, but at first I spent very little. Too afraid to spend it stupidly, and later to find out I could have done better. So I didn’t spend anything.
A Journal To Track Things like:
- Track my spending and amount I spent.
- My daily things I do each day, how to do better
- my bus travel-stores I found along the way. I want to go back to, or didn’t have a chance to look at.
- when I went to the Food Bank-what did I get each time I was there.
- how much diapers my baby went through in a day.
- how much I spent on Fast Food ( only when I was away from home) I usually had granola bars for travelling.
My first week of spending anything was on:
- baby wipes
- box of crackers (nighttime snack)
- small bag of chips (treat for me)
- laundry soap (99 cents) for washing spit up towels
Tips For Raising a Baby on a Tight Budget
- focus on the essentials first (food, diapers and shelter)
- Use Community help -programs, Food Banks, and Mom Groups
- Plan your purchases weekly and not daily
- Stretch your supplies where ever possible
Now the Biggest Thing that Helped me Was a Food Bank.
This is where I got some more food for the week, and a choice of bread. After, they had a children’s clothing exchange. Or just take what you needed. Also, the Food Bank gave me some formula for my baby. Pablum too, but I saved that for later since he was only 2 weeks old.
I heard about the Food Bank from a lady in Safeway, where I was shopping. Cause I was adding my money up for some formula and diapers. She came over to me and told me to save my money and go here- handed me a paper with the address on it to the Food Bank. It was just around the corner and was happening right then.
She was right, the place had what I needed. Being my first time there, I got more help with food for us. They helped me more, by telling me other places where I could also go. These helped alot, cause they were spread out during the week.
What I have Learned From This
When I think of how things are tough now. I think back to How I raised my baby on a tight budget. As I look back, I am amazed at how I managed it all. By being more careful and mindful of what I spent. And now know that I can do it again if I need to.
When I think of how the prices of every thing are rising, and I think we may struggle. It made me think of when I was first a mom on my own. I made it and I know I have the knowledge to do it all again if needed. So know that you are not alone in this. We all have our own story, just need to learn from it.