LETS TALK MONEY, PART 3 ! Okay, lets recap. Thus far, we’ve discussed 1) Modifying expenses and 2) Saving money. Now we will discuss Stocking Up Essentials ! This is the third and final post of our Let’s Talk Money series. So, I have 1) Created a physical piggy bank for placement week 2)Set aside funds for maternity leave 3) Modified and reduced expenses. Now, let’s talk about stocking up !
This is actually my favorite part because it’s the most fun ! Plus, it makes your adoption experience more real because you can see tangible items that are for your child(ren).
Let’s discuss !
So, I had an idea to purchase as many items for my kids as I could during my adoption process so that I could forgo those expenses post placement. For example, I picked up items that I knew my kids would need no matter what gender or age they are. Here’s a list of essentials I have stocked up on:
~Toilet Tissue ~Deodorant
~Allergy Medicine ~Lotion
~Cold Medicine ~Body Wash
~Pain Medicine ~Body Soap
~Pepto Bismol ~Shampoo
~Toothpaste ~Conditioner
~Toothbrushes ~Hair Bows
~Hair Scrunchies ~Vaseline
I stocked their bathroom with all of these toiletries just a little at a time. Every time I went shopping, I would pick up at least 1 item. In a few months, their bathroom was fully stocked and ready. You may be wondering how spending money on these items is financially beneficial. It’s not the spending itself that is beneficial. It’s when you’re spending it. These are all essentials that you will have to purchase anyway. Purchasing these items upfront allows you to control at what pace you spend the money. If you wait until you get your placement, you’ll be buying everything at once. If that’s financially workable for you, that’s great. But for me, I needed to spread everything out and prepare in advance.
Here’s the fun part, but I did a little Christmas shopping for my future kids. I bought toys here and there from starting in the summer of 2020. By Fall, I was finished, lol. This is completely optional, but I did it because I thought I would be getting my kids by Christmas 2020. I wanted to be prepared. Almost a year later, I still have those same gifts stashed away. Hopefully, my kiddos will be here by Christmas this year so I can reclaim my hiding places, lol. Other things I bought were sheet sets, towels, comforters, pillows, mattress covers, and book bags. Additionally, I stocked up on school supplies in the late summer months when the stores had back-to-school sales.
Of course, I couldn’t buy their wardrobe because I don’t know their exact ages or sizes. However, I could buy their school supplies, toiletries, some toys, and room decor. I believe it will help to have those things in advance if possible. It will save time later on, and you’ll most likely thank yourself later.
Thanks for reading…See you next post!
~Banessa
Hey Banessa! I love reading your blog posts! Great ideas! I agree stocking up is the most fun part!
Yes it is !!!