How to Save for Baby's Future

Nab Bargains on Gear

Discount your diaper bill. Purchase in bulk. "Once your child is in size 2 or 3, she'll stay there for a while and you can really stock up," Ashford says.
Saved About $5 per week

Try big-ticket items before buying. "Have your baby use a friend's swing or bouncy seat to make sure she likes it before you spring for one," Petersik suggests. If your buddy is done with hers, ask if you can borrow it instead of buying your own. And feel free to skip even some of the most traditional must-haves: "We bought a $35 booster seat instead of a $130 high chair," Ashford says. "It also means less clutter in our apartment."
Saved About $2 per week

Click for coupons. Before ordering online, search for deals by typing "coupon" and the item into a search engine. Retailers such as Buy Buy Baby also tend to offer discounts or gift cards when you "like" them on Facebook. "I check for coupons before I buy supplies, even diapers and wipes," Bolduc says.
Saved About $4 per week

Negotiate smartly. "Some stores give you incentive to pay cash for major items by offering you a discount," Kofke says. This is especially true in locally owned shops. (Prices tend to be set in stone at the behemoths).
Saved About $5 per week

Put your credit cards to work. Smith charges all of her big purchases on a credit card that accumulates points, which she cashes in later for vacation perks. "Marriott Rewards will give you two free nights just for opening a card and using it once," she says. But make sure you pay off that balance every month so interest and finance charges don't nibble away at your savings.
Saved about $10 per week

Earn while you spend. Register with UPromise.com, a free service that connects you to Target, Best Buy, many regional grocery-store chains, and other retailers that will put up to 25 percent of your bill into your UPromise account. You can then transfer this to a 529 plan, use it to pay off student loans, or have it issued as a check for college-related expenses. "I do all my holiday shopping through UPromise and earned $45 last year," Macomber says. "I also registered all my credit cards, so any purchases I make add a percentage to our account." You can also ask family members to register their credit cards to your kids' account, doubling your efforts.
Saved About $2 per week