Recent Articles
Check out all the latest articles from Shoestring Baby — name ideas, baby gear reviews, savings tips and more!
June 2020: Monthly Baby Budget – $502 Saved
Back with our monthly baby budget installment. Each month I detail our baby-related spending and highlight how much we saved compared to buying retail (spoiler: buying secondhand saves a lot!). My hope is that our monthly baby budgets add transparency to what a family’s baby expenses actually looks like month to month. I’d also like…
8 Alternatives to Baby Registries & Gifts in 2023
Not sure if a traditional baby registry is right for you? Here are 8 great ideas for alternatives to a standard baby registries and gifts. Finding the right fit for you helps you save money & feel more supported. When we had our baby, we did not have a baby registry. I have some hang…
Can You Mystery Shop with Kids?
Have you ever considered becoming a mystery shopper? Secret shoppers are undercover customer service evaluators, who are paid to pose as average customers and report on their customer experience. I have been mystery shopping for almost a decade and it is an awesome side hustle – and one that you can do with kids in…
Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Secret Shopper in 2023
Learn how to make extra cash as a mystery shopper! Secret shopping is a fun and easy side hustle to try today. I have been a secret shopper for almost a decade. My friend had started mystery shopping and suggested I give it a try as a fun hobby that doubles as a side hustle….
May 2020: Monthly Baby Costs – $96 Saved
Checking in with our May 2020 baby costs report. Each month I detail our baby budget and our baby-related spending. I also highlight our monthly savings compared to buying new retail items (spoiler alert: opting for used saves a lot!). You can find all the reports here: Monthly Reports – Baby Expenses and Savings. I write…
10 Baby Items with High Resale Value in 2023
There are a lot of expensive baby items on the market. A $900 stroller. A $1300 bassinet. For those of us trying to be frugal with our babies, the price of some baby gear can be shocking. However, you can still be financially savvy even if you want to splurge on a baby item or…
12 Water Activities for Toddlers
As a Floridian, I have been waiting for the moment when our baby could start swimming in the pool or ocean with us since he was born. While it is finally warming up enough for water play, it seems unlikely that pools near us will be opening soon. Not wanting to miss the summer while…
Breastfeeding vs. Formula Costs: Don’t Forget Women’s Time
Before I was even pregnant, I spent a lot of time reading research papers and articles about breastfeeding vs. formula feeding. Formula feeding felt like the right decision for me but I wanted to make sure I hadn’t overlooked something in the current research. Being frugal-focused, I also spent time looking into the financial implications…
