<p>Last weekend, I went to a lovely baby shower. A sweet young couple we know and love are due this fall. We gathered to celebrate new life. And we gathered to give good gifts to a household soon to be filled with the joys and cries of a newborn.</p><p>Celebrations like these typically bring a combination of niceties and necessities. A stroll through the baby aisle — especially when it’s been a minute since you’ve had a newborn of your own — makes even the most frugal of shoppers want to drop every adorable outfit into the cart. Obviously, your budget can’t cover every single need, let alone want. But you can shower blessings on those you love on a budget.</p><p>Set up a generous fund</p><p>For years, I struggled when it came to special occasions like bridal and baby showers, birthdays and “just because” gifts. There just didn’t seem to be any extra wiggle room in our budget. Then, we began putting back a small, set percentage of our income for the specific purpose of being generous. This fund waxes and wanes, but never seems to empty completely. And when we know a momentous occasion like a graduation or a wedding or a new baby’s arrival is imminent, we budget the funds accordingly.</p><p>Our generous fund is an independent checking account linked to our primary account. This makes it easy to transfer funds in and out of it and keep expenditures separate from our day-to-day purchases. Transferring the money out of your general account really is the majority of the battle. Once the funds are out of general checking, you’re less likely to be tempted to use them for non-generous purposes. And if you leave the generous fund within your primary checking, you’re more likely to spend it on other things. Partitioning your resources allows you to keep frivolous spending in check.</p><p>Begin with the registry</p><p>If you have access to one, it’s wise to begin by looking at the registry the expectant parents spent time putting together. You can always put your own unique spin on a gift, but focusing in on the items needed fills the gaps and helps a young family immensely. If available, find essentials on the list. Items like diapers, wipes and shampoo might not be as cute when the mom-to-be opens up your gift, but will be necessary in the days to come.</p><p>Pace yourself</p><p>When it comes to occasions like weddings and babies, you might need to budget for more than one gift. After all, if you are invited to a shower for either, you’re more than likely going to give a second gift on the big day, too. So while it’s easy to dive right in and go a little hog wild, avoid the temptation. Or, buy gifts for both and set aside the second to use in the future to save yourself the time and energy required for round two.</p><p>Wrap practically</p><p>I wandered the aisles of a couple of superstores trying to find wrapping paper or a gift bag to put special touches on our family’s gift. It’s been over 11 years since I’ve had a baby shower of my own. So, my bag of bags in the closet didn’t have any that would fit the bill. That being said, I just couldn’t get myself to purchase paper that would be immediately tossed in the trash or a $7 gift bag. Luckily, babies need all sorts of practical containers, too.</p><p>Consider placing your gift inside a laundry basket or maybe wicker basket perfect for toys. I found an affordable, durable canvas bag at a craft store for less than half the price of its paper counterpart. Whether it’s a tiny bathtub or photo archive box, think outside of the traditional wrapping norms. Or if the store where you purchase your gift offers free wrapping services, take advantage of that perk.</p><p><p><strong>Celebrating new life with a meal and a clean toilet</strong></p><p>Babies are beautiful … and exhausting. If you can, encourage a new mom by setting up a calendar of meals provided by her community. A free platform like MealTrain.com, MealBaby.com or CareCalendar.org helps you organize all of the details with ease. Families can even list their favorite places for delivery and carryout so gift cards can be sent from those far from their home or simply in a busy season of life.</p><p>A friend once told me that she never brings a meal to a new mother without packing one essential ingredient in her bag — toilet cleaner. Of course, the toilet cleaner has nothing to do with the meal and everything to do with the new mom. She would quietly slip in to use the restroom and clean the toilet without mentioning a thing. I love a kind, stealth scrubber. I told her she was welcome at my house with her top secret bag even if I hadn’t recently given birth.</p><p>In the end, even if it’s only a small gift of $5 or less, you can make a difference in someone else’s world when a baby is born. Send a superstore gift card or buy an essential. Pick out something adorable or purchase the practical. Order a pizza or make a homemade meal. Just don’t forget the toilet cleaner and plenty of love.</p>
