Congratulations, you?re expecting! This will be the most exciting and nerve-racking experience of your entire life. For most young couples, the scary part isn?t giving birth, it?s the cost, because a lot of young couple don?t have any idea how much of a dent a child is going to put in their budget until the baby comes and they are diving headfirst into the mounds of diapers and formula. But, have no fear, with some great research, patience, and even a little bit of street smarts every parent can survive raising a child, especially a baby. Here are some great tips to help you do just that.<br><br>1.) Breast is best. Breastfeeding is by far the best source of nutrition for your new baby, not to mention, that it is also cost efficient. If you are able to breast-feed you should, because formula really is outrageous, plus you will be doing the best thing for your baby. However, if breastfeeding doesn?t really work out for you, don?t be ashamed. You are still a good mother and there are ways to save on the purchase of formula via coupons and you may qualify for a state funded program, like WIC, that will help you out in the formula department.<br><br>2.) Buy diapers in bulk. A lot of discount stores and big name stores often have sales on big boxes of diapers. You can also find good diaper deals online, so don?t be afraid to explore your options and hunt down the best price.<br><br>3.) Register online for coupons. You can register online at the specific brands websites for great coupons that you can use toward diapers, formula, cereal, and baby food. By sacrificing a few minutes of your time, you can start printing great coupons offline and receiving them in the mail.<br><br>4.) Consider making your own baby food. There are great websites and books out there about making your own baby food. Once you really start looking into it you will see just how easy and hassle-free it can be. Baby food may not seem that expensive, but it really does add up. So, if you?re serious about saving money, you may want to consider this option.<br><br>5.) Make your own baby wipes. This is a lot easier than it sounds and they actually work as well as the store bought ones. You can find the recipe online and the things you need to make it actually add up to be less than purchasing pre-made baby wipes. If this seems to complicated for you, another way to save in the wipe department, is to simply tear them in half! A lot of cheap diapers won?t tear well, but name brand wipes like Huggies and Pampers actually tear very easily. You will be amazed at how long a container will last you!<br><br>6.) Don?t be ashamed of hand-me downs. This is true for strollers, cribs, and other big-ticket items, as well as, clothing. You should always purchase your car seat new, because car seats do expire and safety standards are always changing. But, most cribs and strollers still meet basic safety standards, plus you will save a ton by taking them off the hands of a friend or purchasing them from a used furniture store. Thrift stores and other second-hand stores are also a great place to find gently used baby clothes, especially since most babies don?t fit into their clothes long enough to ruin them. If you have a friend that recently had a baby that is the same sex, you might as to borrow some of her baby clothes that her baby has outgrown. You don?t always have to purchase new, there are lots of nice used things out there.<br><br>As you can see there are a lot of great ways to save money before and after your little bundle of joy makes their entrance. By thinking smart and using lots of cost comparison, you can come out on top of the whole baby-raising gig and with a few bucks to spare.