LilSugar

Jersey Moms Pay the Most to Give Birth!

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:36:43 PDT

Expectant mamas might want to call a moving van if they live in New Jersey - the Garden State is the most expensive state to have a baby today. While the average US family will pay $9,617 to deliver vaginally and $15,799 for C-section, Jersey moms pay almost double that: $18,372 for a vaginal birth and $26,743 for a Cesarean. They may want to jump on the turnpike and head south a few hours to Maryland, which is the least expensive place to give birth. There, it only costs $5,509 for vaginal deliveries and $6,812 for C-sections.

These hefty price tags don't take insurance into account, and almost 40 percent of LilSugar readers said that their births were completely covered by their insurance plans. Still, if you tack these costs onto the $222,360 it costs to raise a child from birth to age 17, mama may want to start investigating the possibility of growing a money tree in the backyard.

Were you surprised when you received your hospital bill?

Source: Flikr User nateOne

Looking to Save Some Cash? Clip Coupons (Virtually, of Course)!

LilSugar — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:09:11 PDT

Children are many things - cheap is not one of them. While actual physical coupon clipping is suddenly cool again, thanks to a down economy and shows like Extreme Couponing, most busy moms don't have time to sit and clip for hours a day. With many of us doing our shopping online, combing the weeklies isn't going to do much good. We've rounded up a selection of great online deals this week - and with the money you save, maybe mama can do a lil something for herself to end the week!

Save up to 70 percent with giggleDEALS
The daily deal trend is going strong, and now that one of our favorite online baby boutiques, Giggle, just launched its own daily deals program, we're even more excited. Mom can save up to 70 percent on featured deals, and Giggle provides a preview of upcoming deals so mama can plan ahead. The first deal features tons of cute stuff from Barefoot Dreams and ends July 18.

Keep reading for more great deals.

10 Incredibly Practical Baby Shower Presents

LilSugar — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:01:37 PDT

In this economy, parents-to-be are thinking less about luxurious layettes and more about baby basics. If you are looking to purchase something sensible for a mama-to-be, check out our slideshow of practical presents.

Sticky Fingers: Baby Loot So Expensive You'll Consider Stealing It

LilSugar — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 05:04:36 PDT

The US Department of Agriculture estimates that the average middle-income family will spend almost $300,000 to raise a child from birth to age 18, and with the cost of baby supplies, you may be feeling like most of that will be spent during your tot's first years! Dream about taking a five-finger discount with our roundup of high-priced but necessary supplies for your offspring.

Companies Biased Against Working Moms, Are They Less Committed?

Heather Maddan — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 03:05:00 PST

When you ask a mother to choose between her child and her job, there's usually no contest. That's the maternal instinct, but should employers be blamed for taking that fact into consideration. A research firm that polled companies since the recession says that global corporations are less inclined to hire family women as of late. According to a Forbes report:

According to the survey, bias against working moms remains strong. A surprising 38% of UK companies fear that working moms are less committed and less flexible, while 31% believe they will leave shortly after training to have another child and 17% worry returning moms will have out-of-date skills.

The international numbers were strikingly similar with 36 percent of employers saying they'd hire working moms in 2011, which is eight percent less than last year.

The Family Latte Factor: How to Save Money and Still Sip Coffee

Heather Maddan — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 03:05:13 PST

Caffeine gets a lot of parents through the day. Some moms and dads only begin to function once they've had their liquid fix. But with the costs of raising a family, many couples have kicked off 2011 with a resolution to budget better. It's hard to give up anything - especially part of your daily routine - cold turkey so I tapped a former barista to give me the inside scoop for saving money and still getting your drink on. From recipes you can make at home to tips for getting more bang for your in-store buck, here's how to cut expenses!

5 Things Moms Should Stock Up on Now!

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 03:00:00 PST

Ready, set, shop! If you thought the preholiday sales were good, the postholiday ones are great! If one of your New Year's resolutions was to cut back your family's spending, take advantage of the current price cuts! With a little forethought, you can stock up on goods that can be used in the months to come.

Birthday Present Budget: How Much Do You Spend on Gifts?

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:00:55 PDT

When birthday season hits, it does so with a bang – in mama's wallet. While your lil one covets invitations to all of his friends and classmates soirees, weekends packed with bowling, gym, and cooking parties mean that mom is spending plenty of time and dough at the toy store. Nobody wants to give a dud as a gift, but mom can't spend a fortune on every tot in the class. So tell me, how much do you budget for the average birthday present?

What Kid Gear Have You Passed Up Because of the Price?

babysugar — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:00:39 PDT

The sticker price of parenting is a huge shocker when you're just entering mommydom. On the "Yippity Sippity" episode of Weeds, new big bro Shane ventured into a baby store to buy a replacement stroller and learned the (faux) Yippity line was going to cost him $1,000. He asked what he could get for a $100, and the curt salesman told him a Yippity Sippity cup holder. The story of our lives. Shane made a move most of us can't, leaving the store with the pricey wheels . . . without whipping out his wallet. Unless you want to end up in the mommy pen, stealing isn't acceptable, but leaving the store empty-handed is a reality in a world filled with $2,000 cribs and $50 bibs. What goodies have you walked away from because of price?

Non Voyage When Labor Day Weekend Plans Are Ruined!

LilSugar — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:06 PDT

There's one thing that storms can't affect, and that's a family's level of fun. If Hurricane Earl or bad weather has you amending Labor Day plans, use a bit of imagination to staycation at home. Whether your children are interested in a sand and sea getaway, boarding a cruise ship, or exploring America's big cities, we've got tips and tricks for how you can give them any and all of those experiences while making memories. Skip packing bags or printing out itineraries and check out our choices!

The Great Outdoors: Pitch a tent for a backyard adventure without having to worry about any campground regulations!

Cruise With the Kids: Leave the ocean sickness at bay and participate in some of these shiptastic activities!

Life's a Beach: Plan a coastal getaway tailored to your kiddos. Bring home the surf, sand, and sea.

Rev It Up For the Ranch: Giddyup lil doggies! It's time to get the wee ones fired up for some time on mama's kickin' dude ranch!

Keep reading for more local options.