Having children can be an expensive proposition. But despite the scary figures in a recent government report on the subject, you shouldn't panic, because there are things you can do to cut the price tag down significantly.
These days, there's intense social pressure on new moms to outfit their bundles of joy in expensive, trendy, upscale baby gear -- even when they can't afford it. And the mommy guilt that drives that emotional buying can be overwhelming.
Kimberly-Clark and Procter & Gamble -- America's diaper duopolists -- are making good on their threats to increase prices on diapers and baby wipes. They're putting the pinch on parents, and making it hard to keep up with the rising cost of bringing up baby.
Women have a tendency to be labeled as worrywarts, and a recent financial survey seems to support that view. When it comes to financial stress, women are three times more likely to feel overwhelmed by their situations than men.