How to Budget for a Nursery

Set your nursery budget before shopping.

A baby nursery is one of the larger expenses of preparing for your new baby. By budgeting the costs over the course of the pregnancy, you are able to spread out the financial investment. The nursery budget also helps you keep your spending under control when you see all of the adorable nursery decor available. A nursery budget allows you to prepare for your baby without taking on lots of debt.

Instructions

1. Calculate the amount of money available for the baby nursery budget. If you're planning to buy items gradually, estimate the amount you have available in your regular budget each month.

2. Walk through the room you're using as the nursery to identify changes needed to the room itself. A coat of paint is an inexpensive way to update the nursery. Determine if you need to budget for any other room expenses like new flooring or a new light fixture.

3. List the large pieces of furniture you need, such as the crib, changing table, rocking chair and dresser. Consider pieces that are able to serve two functions, like a low dresser that also works as the changing table. To save money, reuse a dresser or rocking chair that you already own.

4. Decide on a theme, color or general style for the decor and accessories, like bedding, rugs, wall decor, curtains and lamps. For the best value, choose neutral designs that you are able to reuse as your child gets older. Avoid going overboard in this area, especially if you are on a limited budget.

5. Shop around at baby furniture stores, discount stores and department stores to get a sense of the pricing on the items you need for the nursery. Write down the prices of the pieces you want for your nursery.

6. Allocate money to the essentials in the room, such as the furniture and any safety issues that need repaired, using your pricing research as a guide. If you're buying the items gradually each month, decide which items you will buy each month depending on how much is available.

References

• Babyzone; The Baby Nursery on Any Budget; Angela Kreiser
• PregnancyToday; Baby Nursery on a Budget; Jennifer Lacey