By now, you’re probably crunching the numbers and starting to get overwhelmed with all the things you should and shouldn’t be to save money during your unplanned pregnancy.
You may be feeling anxious and concerned about how you’re going to keep your head above water. But there are several ways you can plan and save, especially with access to resources that provide much-needed assistance for food, healthcare, housing and counseling.
Never fear, Adoption Choices of Colorado is here to help save the day! We know of several tips and tricks that will allow you to plan and save during your unplanned pregnancy. So, look below and see if there’s anything that you haven’t yet thought of, heard about or discovered while researching on your own.
Tips on How to Plan and Save
There are a million and one ways to save – none of which are right or wrong. Remember to, above all else, do what works best for you in regards to your situation and capability!
Financial
No one is good with numbers unless they work with them for a living. Here are a few bits and bobs that may seem unusual, but have a large impact in the long run. You can even utilize these tips past pregnancy and make them long-term lifestyle habits.
- Create a budget – Keep track of your spending habits. Place all extra money in a piggy bank, and try to limit any unnecessary expenses. Eating out, going shopping and treating yourself occasionally is always ok. But, to maintain your budget, plan how much you can spend on those tasks each month.
- Collect coupons – This is a great way to save money, especially on groceries! Go to your local grocery stores and see what coupons are available in their weekly or monthly ads. Take advantage of the deals you find, and join the store membership program. All of this can help you save money in the long run.
- Have good health insurance – Your health, and that of your baby’s, is essential while pregnant. Make sure that you can get or have health insurance that provides you with all the coverage you need – doctor’s appointments, pre/postnatal care, prenatal exams and lab work, medications and labor costs.
- Apply for Disability – See if you qualify for an FSA/HSA.
- Find proper legal assistance – If you choose Adoption Choices of Colorado, we provide legal assistance throughout the entirety of your adoption journey!
- Plan your maternity leave – Figure out when you are able to take time off work for doctor’s appointments and how long you can afford to be out for labor, delivery and recovery.
- Get rid of your surplus – Selling any items you don’t need is another way to make extra money.
Clothing
We’ve all got tricks up our sleeves on where to find the best shoes or the cheapest jeans. We even have our favorite clothing websites and stores. While pregnant, though, there’s a possibility you may feel pressure for your clothing to be mass-approved or brand new when it doesn’t have to be. There are many brands and stores (new and second-hand) that are local and support good causes, have several clothing options and utilize ideas on how to transform those hand-me-downs anew. Here are a few ideas:
- Buy a belly band – It will help you stay in your pre-pregnancy clothes longer, saving money so you don’t have to buy countless new maternity clothes.
- Wait to buy maternity clothes – That is, until you really need them. You can even borrow or purchase them second-hand.
Community Ideas
Being pregnant doesn’t mean you have to be alone. If you find yourself struggling and needing moral support, there are several community options available. Be sure to look for these in your local area.
- Pregnancy classes – Community centers, by far, have affordable pregnancy classes.
- Support groups – It’s okay to ask for help or find others to relate to who can help you through this time.
Other Resources
Adoption Choices of Colorado’s main goal is to support you and your journey during your unplanned pregnancy. We also aim to provide you with unlimited information and resources to answer your every question and concern.
In one of our past blogs, we discussed how we provide assistance to birth mothers. If you’re in need of assistance with food, healthcare, housing and counseling, be sure to check it out. You’ll find Colorado-specific programs ready to help you.
Planning and saving don’t have to be complicated. Placing your child for adoption is an intricate process and can be an emotional one, too. At Adoption Choices of Colorado, we want you to have as much support, love and care as possible. You deserve to feel confident every step of the way.
Adoption Choices of Colorado
Adoption Choices, Inc. is a private, non-profit adoption agency licensed by the state and leader in the adoption community. We have been assisting birth parents, children, and adoptive parents in Colorado since 2002. Our staff has a genuine commitment to providing an empathetic, empowering, and progressive experience to all involved in the adoption process. For more information on adoption please contact Adoption Choices of Colorado. We can be reached via our website or phone 303-670-4401.
About the Author
Taylor Tsakopulos, the bestselling student. She has interned locally in Denver and internationally in Dublin, Ireland, taken classes/workshops and worked odd jobs and yet always comes back to being a student and the desire to learn or create.
She is a jack of all trades (i.e. a Gemini). She is a Denver-based writer, creator, artist and student. A graduate from Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU).
When she isn’t creating content she’s off dancing and hiking. Always chasing after new things and experiences. After living and working in Europe, she is hungry for more.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!