According to a recent survey by Gurgle.co.uk, the average cost of raising a child to their first birthday is a staggering £18,000.
Now we know by now that averages can hide a massive differences (in this case the spread between thes high and low amounts spent on the child), indeed, geographically, there’s a huge difference between the £27,000 spent by parents in the North West in the first year, compared with the £13,000 average spend by parents in the North East.
But even at £13,000, that’s an awful lot for a family to find, especially if they’re  already struggling for money, or worried about their job security.
So how can you reduce the cost of bringing up a baby? Walletpop has a few ideas, including getting free nappies, baby milk and eventually baby food.
Whilst you might not avoid some of the more costly larger purchases, such as a cot or pushchair, cutting down on these regularly purchased items can add up, so finding freebies can be a great help. It will also give new mums something to do in between watching Jeremy Kyle and napping.
photo credit: makuneros
Gurgle, good choice of name, LOL