1. Pay off high-interest debt
2. Create a shopping strategy
3. Know the leave policy on your job
4. Tell your boss
5. Save now to make up for any income shortfalls
6. Make room for baby in your everyday budget
7. Start shopping for life insurance
8. Check your health coverage
9. Learn about college savings plans

I wanted to comment on #1, 5, and 6. Once the initial excitement has overflowed and the financial realities begin to settle in comes a period of… how in the world are we going to be able to afford a new baby? This is usually followed by hectic online searches for all the best baby bargains out there. Maybe that is how you found this blog. We’ll certainly get to that. However, it is wise to have a good foundation in place. That all begins with a budget. The #1 source I recommend above all others is Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace. If you can afford the course or find a local class it is worth the investment. If that’s a bit pricey get one of his books and implement his baby steps. Create a budget (yeah, it’s about as fun as it sounds). Start working on your debt snowball payment plan. Get your financial house in order. I’ll be including an entire chapter on putting a budget and debt payment plan in place in my ebook set to come out soon.

Once this is in place you do not, by any means, want to blow all the progress you’ve made by going crazy on new baby gear. The secret to keeping your financial plan going is knowing the best baby bargains. That is where I can help. I’ll be sharing more in the coming weeks. I look forward to it.

If you want to be notified when our Guide to the Best Baby Bargains is available please send an email to josh@mommydaddysavers.com