As I will soon be a dad and we will soon be welcoming a little Bitcoiner into the world, I wanted to share my experiences so far with you. Perhaps one or two of you might have some additional tips for saving money. In my opinion, a lot of money is often spent unnecessarily on baby and newborn supplies.
The arrival of a baby is one of the biggest turning points in life - both emotionally and financially. Suddenly you have to buy lots of new things, while your income can change at the same time. But if you plan ahead and make conscious decisions, you can save several thousand euros without depriving the baby of anything. This article shows where you can really save and where it makes sense to invest.
The biggest costs often go unnoticed
Many parents-to-be focus on large purchases such as baby carriages or cribs. But in fact, high costs are often caused by many small purchases: clothes in sizes that are too small, care products in brand quality or unnecessary technology items. Especially in the first year of life, a baby grows very quickly, which means that clothes often only fit for a few weeks.
A common mistake is to buy "in stock". Babies have individual needs - what works for others does not necessarily fit your own child. As a result, many products remain unused.
Initial equipment
Newborns need less than advertising and social media suggest. A few basics are enough for the first few weeks:
- Sleeping place (extra bed or crib)
- Changing facilities
- A few bodysuits, rompers and socks
- Diapers and basic care products
Everything else - toys, additional furniture, special gadgets - can be added as required. Many midwives advise waiting for the first few weeks to get to know the actual needs. This saves money and prevents bad purchases.
We have a changing mat made of 75% PUR foam (polyurethane) and 25% plywood. The advantage is that you can place this changing tray anywhere and therefore change your baby wherever you want. It is also easy to clean. We also bought a changing top for our IKEA Hemnes chest of drawers, which you can simply remove again instead of buying a complete changing unit. We bought the co-sleeper through classified ads, and bodysuits and other clothes came from baby bazaars.
Minimalism as a savings approach instead of influencers
Especially in the baby and family sector, consumption is strongly driven by social media and influencers. New "must-haves" that are supposedly indispensable are presented on a daily basis. A minimalist approach helps to consciously break through this pressure: Only buy what is really needed - not what is trending.
Minimalism does not mean doing without, but rather setting clear priorities. Fewer things mean less spending, less decision-making stress and more focus on the essentials. Many purchases can be postponed or prove to be superfluous in everyday life. If you ask yourself before every purchase "Do we really need this - or are we just being sold it?"will not only save money in the long term, but also nerves.
Second-hand as a savings booster
Second-hand is one of the most effective money-saving tips for parents. Baby clothes, carriers and furniture are usually hardly used and therefore in very good condition. Baby bazaars, flea markets and online classifieds offer enormous savings potential. Second-hand is particularly useful for:
- Clothing (size 50-68)
- baby carriers
- Changing tables
- cribs
In the case of safety-relevant products such as car seats, however, attention should be paid to age, accident safety and current standards. Here you have to be careful - not every base of a brand fits both baby car seat and child seat. We opted for Cybex as there was a 15% discount on top of the reduced price via Amazon with Baby Wish List.
Make targeted use of discounts, vouchers and wish lists
Many parents underestimate how much they can save by making consistent use of discounts. The Amazon baby wish list is a good example: depending on the promotion 15% discount on numerous items initial equipment. The savings quickly add up, especially for regularly needed products such as diapers or care products.
It is also worthwhile:
- Use coupons and multiple packs
- Use bonus programs in a targeted manner
Gifts from family and friends can also be better coordinated using wish lists - this avoids duplicate purchases.> Amazon Baby-Wunschliste
Realistically estimate running costs
In addition to the one-off initial equipment, there are monthly fixed costs. These include, among other things:
- Diapers and care products
- Clothing (growth spurts)
- later childcare costs, hobbies or courses
A simple budget plan helps to keep an overview. Especially if one parent works less or not at all at times, realistic planning is crucial to avoid financial worries.
Use parental allowance strategically - consider liquidity and return on investment
There are major financial differences in parental allowance depending on how it is paid out. Many parents opt for payment over two years (Parental Allowance Plus), but receive less money each month (up to €900 per month). Alternatively, if you have some financial leeway, you can consider having the basic parental allowance paid out over one year (up to €1,800 per month) and saving or investing the surplus.
The advantage - the money is available earlier and in full. If the unused portion is invested in an overnight money account, money market ETF or as a conservative savings plan, for example, an additional return can be achieved that would simply be lost in the event of a long payout.
Another point is often overlooked - those who return to work in the second year often benefit from tax effects, as the lower Parental Allowance Plus is taken into account in the progression proviso. Depending on your income, the net result can be more favorable than receiving parental allowance. An individual sample calculation is almost always worthwhile here.
In short: If you plan, you can not only secure parental allowance - but actively make it work for you. Fun fact: Parental allowance has not been adjusted in the last 19 years. The last adjustment was in 2007.
State-subsidized share-based early retirement pension for children
From 2026, the state is planning a fundamental paradigm shift in private pension provision with the so-called early-start pension: children are to be introduced to the capital market early and automatically. The aim is to take advantage of the compound interest effect over decades and reduce dependence on the state pension in the long term.
Specifically, children from the age of 6 to 18 receive a state subsidy of 10 euros per month, which flows directly into a capital-funded retirement savings account. In total, the subsidy amounts to EUR 1,440 per child, whereby this benefit is completely independent of income. This means that all children benefit equally - regardless of their parents' financial situation.
How does the Early Start Pension work?
- Paid in automatically each month
- invested in funds or ETFs
- invested for a specific purpose over the long term (private pension provision)
- not paid out, but held until retirement age
The custody account is intended exclusively for capital market-based retirement provision. Short-term disposals or misappropriation are not planned. This deliberately distinguishes the Frühstart-Rente from traditional savings products or flexible junior custody accounts.
Income in the custody account is expected to remain tax-free during the savings phase, which additionally favors long-term asset accumulation.
Savings plan for the child's future
In addition to current expenses, it is particularly worth taking a long-term look ahead. A savings plan started early can open up decisive opportunities for the child later on - for example for training, studies, self-employment or their first home. This principle is often referred to as an early start pension: It is not the amount paid in that is decisive, but the early start.
An example:
- 210 € per month
- Term: 18 years
- Average return: approx. 6 % p.a.
→ Possible end capital: over € 97,000
The biggest advantage is the time factor. The earlier you save, the greater the compound interest effect. ETF savings plans are particularly suitable for this, as they are cost-effective, flexible and long-term oriented.
Alternative early retirement pension: Bitcoin savings plan instead of shares
However, more and more parents are thinking about setting up a Bitcoin savings plan for their child instead of a traditional share ETF - or at least investing part of the savings installment in Bitcoin.
Why Bitcoin as an early retirement pension?
- Extremely long-term horizon: a baby has 18, 20 or even 25 years to live
- Limited supply: maximum of 21 million Bitcoin
- No dilution through monetary policy
- High volatility, but historically very strong long-term performance
Short-term volatility can be less significant, especially due to the long investment period Monthly saving (cost-average effect) additionally smoothes out price fluctuations.
An example:
- 210 € per month
- Term: 18 years
→ Possible end capital: well over € 400,000
Bitcoin DCA calculator from Blocktrainer, a very nice tool.
https://www.blocktrainer.de/tools-services/bitcoin-dca-rechner
Bitcoin is much more volatile than ETFs; historical average returns (CAGR) are highly time-dependent. Many sources cite long-term annual average returns for Bitcoin between ~30-40% since 2013, but this depends on the start date chosen. For a simple, conservative extrapolated figure, I cite 35% p.a. Other long-term evaluations since around 2011 show a CAGR of around 60-90%, depending on the start and end point. Averaged over various established calculations, this results in a practicable benchmark of around 70% p.a.
An example:
- 210 € per month
- Term: 18 years
→ Possible end capital: well over € 1.9 million
Child benefit - an underestimated foundation for building wealth
Child benefit is often completely "used up" in everyday life. However, it is an excellent basis for a savings plan for the child. Even a partial amount, invested consistently, can make a huge difference in the long term. We ourselves use child benefit specifically as an investment for our daughter's future. Whether ETF savings plan, mixed solution or Bitcoin savings plan: The decisive factor is not the product, but continuity.
It's important to be honest about your own budgetNot every family can save all of their child benefit - and that's perfectly fine. Even a partial amount is better than nothing at all. The savings plan should always be realistic and fit in with your own cash flow so that it can be maintained in the long term.
Child allowance (KiZ) & housing benefit
Families with a medium or lower income often give money away because they do not apply for subsidies. Child supplement (KiZ) and housing benefit are not social assistance, but targeted support for families who are just above certain income limits.many mistakenly think: "We earn too much for that."
In practice, a non-binding online calculation is almost always worthwhile, as rental costs, part-time work and parental allowance can suddenly result in an entitlement. These benefits can amount to several hundred euros a month and significantly alleviate financial bottlenecks.
Family organization saves more money than you think
Good organization is an underestimated savings factor. Chaos costs time, nerves - and money. That's why we deliberately rely on a digital family organizer.
Our setup consists of:
- a shared family calendar
- a weekly meal plan
- a clear task and to-do list
We use Daelya family organizer from a Viennese startup. The big advantage. All appointments are visible twice - digitally and physically. Nobody forgets doctor's appointments, shopping or tasks. Even Bitcoin holidays are registered with us.
The meal plan massively reduces spontaneous shopping. If you don't have to "just grab something quickly" every day, you buy fewer unnecessary snacks, influencer products or impulse items. The to-do lists also ensure clear responsibilities - and prevent discussions or arguments in everyday life.
Result: Less shopping, less stress, more structure - and more money left over at the end of the day.
Use support and build up knowledge
Parents don't have to know everything on their own. Sharing experiences with other parents, midwives or online communities helps to avoid typical bad purchases. Videos, blogs and guides provide practical insights and show what is really needed in everyday life - and what is not.
Conclusion
A baby doesn't have to mean financial overload. If you shop consciously, use second-hand items, make targeted use of discounts and start a savings plan for the future early on, you can save considerable sums of money. The result is not only a more stable budget, but above all more peace and serenity for what really counts: spending time together with your child in the first few months.
I wanted to consciously share these experiences. Not as a universal solution or perfect blueprint, but as an invitation to take a critical look at your own family finances at an early stage. In my opinion, more is often spent on baby and newborn supplies than is actually necessary - money that could be put to much better use in the long term.
Perhaps you have any additions or savings tips of your own. Whether you are new to family planning or have older children and lots of experience - the exchange between new and experienced parents is incredibly valuable.
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Important note
The opinions and information we provide do not constitute financial advice. They are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for individual advice from qualified professionals.
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