Having a baby doesn’t have to break your piggy bank

A sunny day at the park with your newborn is priceless, too bad all of the gear associated with baby is not.

Your baby’s first year can cost as much as $15,000.

New mom, Sue Hardin, was surprised how quickly costs rack up.

"You know from a bassinet to a crib, clothing, diapers, wipes, everything that goes into having a baby - our first thoughts were how are we going to do this?,” she said.

Hardin, with her 10-day-old son Gavin, took advantage of hand-me-downs from her family and saved hundreds.

"I would say roughly about $800, " she said. And that's only in the first ten days."

Another way to save? Breast feeding. It can save up to $1,800 a year in the cost of formula. Nancy Sullivan, Medical Director with Postpartum Care Center with Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center, says breast-feeding saves you even more long-term.

"It can help babies avoid problems like allergies, asthma, throughout their childhood. You can avoid hundreds, even thousands of dollars in future medical costs by breastfeeding," said Sullivan.

You will need a breast pump which can cost 4350 dollars new. Hardin borrowed one, but purchased removable parts which added up to about $40.

Link: Parents.com

You can also save money on baby food by making your own. Freeze it in meal-sized cubes and heat it as you need it.

Baby clothes may be small in size, but they can have a big impact on your wallet. One way to save, hit Craig’s List where Mom’s sell outgrown baby clothes for next to nothing.

“People sometimes just give it away for free!," said nanny Adrianna Karp.

Mother of two, Stephanie Ward made money off of hers.

"I actually sold our old stroller and car seat-combo on Craig's List. And that is an awesome way to go," said Ward. "So if you look around you can find a lot of real bargains.," said Sullivan. Bargains that can buy you some peace of mind.