Children arrive and change many things in our lives: our rhythm, our routine, our lifestyle and, of course, our home. Since a baby is coming, we begin to plan and list all those things that we will now need to buy or change for your arrival.
When the family begins to grow, we will need to buy some things and of course, we should seek to buy only what is necessary. However, there are some things you can buy for your home or measures you can take and that, while requiring some investment, will be a long-term savings now that you are a family.
How conception changes when buying things
Just as your way of thinking changes after having a baby, when you start a family, also change your conception when buying things for the house, because now you will need various objects for your child and also, to make life a little easier for you.
Now for example, All purchases must be made thinking about the usefulness or benefit of a product for you as a familyWell, as we know, when children arrive, expenses multiply, so it is important to make purchases intelligently.
In Babies and more Baby arrives and you need to save: the Japanese plan that can help you control expensesAs I said at the beginning, there are some things that we can do without because they are unnecessary expenses or that we will use for a short time, so if we seek to save or not spend a lot of money, we must list those things that we really need, but above all, to which we will put them to good use.
Therefore, we think it is more convenient to buy things that while they can be expensive, are also investments that help you save in the long term. That is, objects or purchases that are durable and of good quality, to extend as long as possible your life time with us.
In this way, although now we pay a little more for them, over the years we will not have to replace them with others of greater capacity, material or size, because They will accompany us as the family grows.
Home investments that save money in the long term
The key to buying such things is to think ahead, say at least about five years, but if we can buy something that can work for us for a longer time, much better. These are some examples of solutions that help us save money in the long term.
Invest in convertible furniture that grows with the child
Babies and children grow rapidly in their first years of life, so there are some "baby" things that are better to skip and focus on acquiring products that can accompany them as long as possible. Some examples of this are:
High chairs that become chairs. The high chair is something that we consider necessary because we will use it when the baby already feels alone and we begin to introduce complementary feeding after six months. But the life time alone of a high chair is usually not more than a year or two, so an option that can be a good investment is to buy a high chair that later becomes a chair. This is how it works when you already sit directly at the family table and save us the need to buy another special chair so that the child sits comfortably and at the height he needs.
Cots that become beds. Another option of convertible furniture is the cribs that later become a bed, by removing one of the sides and placing a small barrier. Thus, accompanies the baby from birth, while growing and then works as an individual bed when he is older. It is a long-haul solution and will prevent you from buying a bed later, which you have it amortized for a few years.
Buy a single stroller from birth
Like convertible furniture, invest in a stroller that serves us from birth and that later we can convert it so we can continue taking it when I grow up, it will be something that will be very useful for us, especially if we are a lot of going for a walk with family or traveling frequently.
The ideal is to buy a transport system that includes a car seat of group 0, to use from birth, as well as a durable and practical stroller that we can use on any occasion without having to buy a second chair. If so, you will invest a good sum but only once, saving you around 200 euros that you would pay for a second-time chair.
In Babies and more Six articles that will make your life with children easier Buy high energy efficient appliances
Saving on the electricity bill is possible if used efficient and energy efficient appliances. A +++ or A ++ refrigerators consume up to 50% less and washing machines between 40% and 50% less, so if you consider replacing appliances, even if they cost more, the investment is worth it in the long term.
According to ANFEL, the National Association of Manufacturers and Importers of Household Appliances, depending on the age of the device being replaced (for example, a combi of more than 15 years) is possible save up to 182 euros per year in electricity
Save by washing and drying clothes
According to the "Study on energy consumption of the residential sector in Spain" of the IDAE, around 15% of total consumption A house's electricity is intended to wash and dry clothes, and when we are a family, there is a lot of clothes to wash.
It is also convenient for the washer and dryer you buy to be energy efficient, and even better if you can do without the dryer. Dryers are also beginning to be seen in the market, although although they are good if you lack space, the dryer part does not have the same capacity as that of an independent dryer.
But besides this, to save energy, experts also recommend:
Wash with cold water when possible: more than 80% of energy expenditure is produced when heated
Increase spin speed
Use high-efficiency detergent low in foam, this will reduce the rinsing time.
Load washer and dryer to maximum capacity and put them to work at night.
Use the automatic washer cycle instead of the programmed cycle.
Clean the lint filter.
Install LED lights throughout the house
Replacing conventional bulbs with LED bulbs, if you have not already done so, will result in significant savings on the electricity bill. Choosing LED bulbs is more expensive than buying traditional bulbs, it could mean a saving of up to 90% in consumption.
It also allows you to save on maintenance, as LED technology means a significant increase in the life of a bulb, an average duration of nine years, much more than traditional light bulbs.
In Europe, it is a mandatory measure, since from September 1 the sale of halogen bulbs is prohibited.
A hybrid car for the family
When we have a baby, it is not necessary to run to buy a new car, but it is a purchase that you should consider at some point. If within our plans is to continue increasing the family, definitely the change of car is an option that we must keep in mind and focus on look for one that is broad, safe and practical, according to our needs.
When buying a car for the family, it is important not only that it allows us to travel comfortably and that we can place the car seats correctly, but also have a place to store all those things we have and carry everywhere when we have Young children, especially on family outings and vacations.
And if in addition you choose a hybrid car, will help you save money in the long term. The profitability of a hybrid car is proven: the maintenance of a hybrid car can be up to 50 percent lower than gasoline and diesel, and in terms of fuel, depending on the type of hybrid as well. A small calculation as an example: if with a gasoline car you spend about 60-70 euros a week, with a hybrid you will spend about 45-50 euros a month. The savings is remarkable.
Chair for the car that lasts a long time
And speaking of transportation, something that our children should use during their first decade of life, are child restraint systems. Since birth and until they turn around 12 years old or until they measure 1.50 meters, It is the safest way to travel by car and certainly an indispensable purchase for the family.
So we advise to investigate and look for a chair or child restraint system that serve them from birth and, or have high limits in terms of weight and height, so that the child can travel in it as long as possible, such as convertible chairs.
Throughout his life you will have to buy at least two car seats, since there is not one that covers all age groups (none serves from birth to 36 kilos), so you will have to buy with your head if you want to save. The most advisable thing is to buy one of group 0 + / 1 (up to 18 kilos, approximately 4 years) that can be placed in reverse. Then you will have to buy another one from group 2/3 for when the child grows up.
Smart plugs
There is an energy consumption that we do not usually control that comes from the devices that we have plugged in without using them. The consumption of phantom consumption is between 40 and 90 euros per year and we can avoid it with some accessories.
From simple strips with switch that we must turn off when not in use, to smart plugs that allow us to program them Depending on the time we are going to use the devices, and even some more advanced models we can handle them from the mobile. For example, if you turn on the TV only at night, the rest of the day you leave it disconnected.
In Babies and more, they create in the United States the perfect mattress for families who make colechoA large refrigerator for cooking and storage
Let's not forget that when the family grows, the number of mouths to be fed also increases. So invest in a large refrigerator with a spacious freezer, it will come in handy as our children grow.
If you are also forecasters and plan meals in advance, you will have enough space to cook one day a week and freeze everything then consume it in the following days. Gas and electricity consumption is also reduced when cooking at once.
With these solutions you can save in the long term and as your children and family grow, you will be grateful to have done so.
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