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Babies on a Budget: Going Green for more Green

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In our days of debt, grocery shopping was little more than going to the local high-end grocery store, piling it high with organic food, and not thinking once, much less twice about the total at the end of the grocery tape. This wasn’t always the case. Once upon a time, I clipped coupons, drove 30 miles to a store that tripled coupons. As I got older, it became more cost effective to buy convenience food- time is indeed money.  Slowly, the ardent penny pincher grew lazy and even laughed at those who, I donned “cheap”.  I’ve not yet gone as far as creating an excel spread sheet and recording prices of staples around town, but if I choose to go that way, I have a friend who has.  While I’ve secretly laughed behind her back, and sometimes, even to her face, I now appreciate her efforts and realize that a penny saved- is a penny saved.

As a new parent, I wanted to provide the best possible nutrition available, which- to me- meant homemade purees made from organic produce. As my oldest grew past purees, I started to spend more and more and more on organic food. She’s two now, and I’ve given up on most organics, except milk, and cereal, and a few other products. It’s a definite change from when everything was organic.  No doubt, I could save money by purchasing organic produce and making her food.  I loved making baby food last time, but now, every minute I have that isn’t tied up in something related to my children is rare, and I guard it selfishly.  If prepackaged organic food can be purchased, purchase it I will.  As a result, W, the baby isn’t getting homemade organic purees; she’s getting Gerber Organics. It’s a budget buster, but it makes me feel better to give her developing body and immune system the best.  I even went so far to get coupons off of ebay, something that it pains me to do, to make up the difference in price between organic and non-organic.

Children’s developing bodies are especially vulnerable to toxins and they may be at risk of higher exposure. Baby food is often made up of condensed fruits or vegetables, potentially concentrating pesticide residues.

But, here comes the big fat BUT. It is possible, and even cost effective, to go more green when raising a baby. The first is cloth diapering. Ewwww. Right? No. No ewwww. Poop in cloth is just as gross as poop in disposables. Poop is poop. My oldest, A, outgrew her cloth diapers, so I made plans to potty train her. Everything was on track for early potty training until the baby was born. When I don’t have time to set the timer, or the energy to clean up pee spots on the (thank goodness) hardwood floors, I put her in pull-ups. Each and every time I go to the store to buy diapers, I come home with a resolve to get serious about this potty training thing. The truth is that using cloth diapers saves an estimated 3,000 per child. I think that’s incentive enough to at least look out the new options in cloth diapering instead of just dismissing the practice as archaic and gross. When using disposables, you pay for the convenience. You really don’t realize how badly disposable diapers stink until you’ve had your baby’s bum in cloth. Since this is a blog on budgeting, I’ll stick to that sensibility, although there are many many others when considering cloth diapers.

Another way to save money going green is with your cleaning products. Make them yourself. Yup, that’s right. Get some vinegar, some baking soda, some essential oils, and make them your self. Then feel confident when you put your baby down on your clean floors that s/he isn’t getting covered in chemicals. It’s so simple it’s stupid really. Why pay money to make your home toxic? If you have a swiffer wet-jet you love, hack it into an eco-friendly version AND save money by not wasting your money on refill solution and pads.

Since starting FPU, I’ve become aware of the link between the “natural living” community and frugality. One naturally leads to the other in some cases. My reasons for cloth diapering weren’t primarily related to saving money, that was just a plus to me. It was during a time where I’d pay $1-$2 more for something organic instead of store generics. I knew that the price difference added up, somewhere. But, for now, as Dave says, we’re living like no one else, so later- we can live like no one else.

~Manda

September 2, 2008 | Filed Under Budgeting, Financial Freedom Journey Pep Talk, Financial Peace Baby Steps, Financial Peace University 

One Response to “Babies on a Budget: Going Green for more Green”

  1. Shara on September 3rd, 2008

    We teach FPU classes and we always share money saving tips. Another great money saver is making your own laundry soap or toothpaste. My husband doesn’t approve of the toothpaste, but we love the laundry soap!! I have made it for years. It is more effective than stuff sold in the store and super cheap and easy to make. It is also gentle enough for babies! Go to http://www.savemoneytoday.net for the recipe.

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